Travis Kelce’s ‘foot Locker’ Quote About Nfl Ref Resurfaces Ahead Of Chiefs Vs. Bills

Travis Kelce and nan Chiefs are group to look their biggest trial of nan 2025 play against nan Bills successful Week 9, and given their caller matchups, there's a reasonably bully chance that nan game's officiating will beryllium nether dense scrutiny.

The caput referee for Sunday's title is reportedly Carl Cheffers, an charismatic pinch whom Kelce has peculiarly notorious history.

Years agone pursuing a Chiefs' 2016 playoff nonaccomplishment to nan Steelers, Kelce ripped nan officiating unit successful his postgame media availability, targeting Cheffers successful particular.

"Ref No. 51 [Cheffers] shouldn't moreover beryllium capable to deterioration a zebra jersey ever again,'' Kelce said. "He shouldn't moreover beryllium capable to activity astatine f---ing Foot Locker.

"For it to extremity for illustration that, pinch nan referee virtually taking it retired of our hands, that hurts," continued Kelce. "You effort to play this crippled pinch integrity, to nan extremity of nan whistle, and erstwhile nan refs want to return complete nan crippled and make it their ain platform, there's thing you tin do astir it. That wasn't a clasp connected my feline Eric Fisher. I dream [Fisher] doesn't spell nan full offseason reasoning it was his fault. That was horse----, level out."

Here's nan resurfaced video of that heated infinitesimal from January 2017:

Kelce's harsh criticisms came successful nan aftermath of officiating contention precocious successful nan Chiefs' loss: then-Chiefs LT Eric Fisher was flagged for a holding punishment that wiped distant what would person been a game-tying two-point conversion pinch 3 minutes remaining successful nan contest. The Steelers ended up winning, 18-16, to beforehand to nan AFC title game.

Kelce later was fined $12,500 for his postgame comments and apologized straight to Cheffers. "Carl, I apologize for saying it successful that manner," nan Chiefs tight extremity said.

What's past is successful nan past, and Kelce apt regrets going aft Cheffers truthful publically aft an affectional postseason loss. Cheffers has gained a somewhat infamous estimation among Chiefs fans aft he worked arsenic nan caput referee for nan Chiefs' Super Bowl LV nonaccomplishment to nan Bucs, a crippled successful which Kansas City was called for a Super Bowl-record 8 penalties for 95 yards successful nan first half.

Cheffers, who's considered 1 of nan much knowledgeable referees successful nan convention pinch 3 Super Bowl assignments nether his belt, besides worked Super Bowl LVII erstwhile nan Chiefs hit nan Eagles 38-35, for what it's worth.

If each goes good Sunday, Cheffers won't tie immoderate antagonistic attraction to his crew, and some nan Chiefs and Bills will locomotion distant pinch a adjacent result—one tin dream, anyway. Kickoff is group for 4:25 p.m. ET astatine Buffalo.

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