Jason Kelce’s reaction to Travis’s performance leaves Andy Reid thoroughly impressed

I mean, your coaching tree has got to be [music] I mean, it’s only you and Bill I think that are up there with the amount of assistants you’ve had go on. Is that a part of what you view your job is to develop all these guys and guide them?  Yeah. So, you know, you’re not going to be a good head coach without good players and good coaches.

 Yeah.  And if you have good players that you can teach as a coach, then normally you’re going to win games.  Yeah.  So, I’ve been lucky to have good, you know, good coaches. And  Yeah.  a lot of them have been ex-players. And and  Don’t you pay?  That’s right.  Oh, man.  And they’ve had a chance to to move on and I’m their biggest fan unless we’re playing them, right? And then and then, you know, we got to roll.

 Yeah. Well, yeah.  But you’re looking to hire you want good people. You want good players that are good people. That’s what you want.  Yeah.  And it’s it’s a people business, no matter how you look at it.  Yeah. The Chiefs have been a staple in championship games the last 5 years. It’s a 5 or 6 years now.

Uh  It’s been 6.  I don’t even know.  Whatever. You haven’t won all of them. Do you cherish the wins more or bemoan the losses more?  Yeah, so yeah, I think losses they they stick with you longer  Yeah.  uh than the wins. The wins you go, “Okay, this is a beautiful thing. Uh let’s move on.

 We got to get on to the next one.” I think the trick to it is if you can learn from each.  Yeah.  And you kind of keep that balance of that.  Yeah.  Where on the losses you don’t get yourself too low. Well, let’s learn from it. Make ourselves better. We lost in a championship game and I listened. I I listened to these guys talk.

 Yeah.  And all of them said I could do better.  Yeah.  I mean, now you got a chance.  Right.  Coming back that next year, you got a chance.  Yeah.  If everybody’s taking part of it, um including the head coach, um if you’re all taking over all the responsibility there, then yeah, you have a chance to to go.

 So, those are good lessons uh to learn when you lose. When you win, you can’t get too high uh cuz if you’re off a tick in the National Football League, you’re going to get your tail kicked.  Right.  And there’s just too much parity.  Yeah.  Too many great players. They’re best again, best in the world.  Yeah.  World’s a pretty big place.

 It is a big place.  So, you know, you got to you got to stay right right at the top of it.  Yeah, the losing definitely uh hits a little home for me right now. But  And I I like to tell everybody after the game I was I was  Do you have a handkerchief?  have a handkerchief?  Yeah. I was very happy.

 I was I was very upset obviously we lost, but I was happy for you guys cuz  You’ve been kicking my tail all my life, coach. So, what do you expect me not to cry?  You’re right, though. I think um and then all you do is you think about the plays that could have happened differently or the different calls you could have made or if this just happens, if I just do that and I think you’re right.

 I think when but it has to be focused on yourself. You got to What what could I have done better? And I think that’s that’s right. Largely where we’re at right now.  And jointly it’ll happen. You guys have a real good team. So, I mean it’s you got good leadership. Um whether it’s Howie or or Nick, I mean these are  three guys you drafted.

 Yeah. Yeah, well  That’s right.  Yeah.  Yeah, that’s right. I appreciate that.  I’m I’m very uh very similar until you persevere and then win and then I didn’t even remember losing the Super Bowl that we were in. That happened?  Yeah, you don’t remember that?  No, I just I block it out, yeah.

 Either that or I just I choose not to  Well, you told me something in the off season that I still tell everybody was when you lose one it makes you want to win one that much more. And I thought you were full of crap until this past year just happened and I can honestly understand where you’re coming from now.  We’re on a fire, baby.

 Yeah. Let’s get back to your Philly area a little bit. You coached in Philly from ’99 to 2000 and 12.  14 years.  14 Yeah. Oh god.    That was your first head coaching job. What were your thoughts going into that? Did you Was it Was Philly the only option? Were you interviewing with multiple other teams? There was a rumor that you had a 5-in notebook that was like your keys to running an organization.

 Yeah. So, there were three teams that that were interested.  Okay.  And Philly happened to be the first interview.  All right.  And listen, it was probably the one that was if I, you know, honestly said it, it was probably the one that I’d have a chance at more than the the other two, but  Sure.  I was the last of the interviews with Philly and four or five guys that interviewed there beforehand and and they were good coaches and so, I was not a coordinator and I’m going, I need every piece of artillery I can get to go

in there and try to get this thing and  Yeah.  I had studied Mike Holmgren for all those years, seven years in Green Bay and try to write notes down and keep it organized.  Mhm.  So, if something were to happen, I was lucky enough to get an interview, I could go in and I’d have the answers to the test.

 Yeah.  Sure.  From a  great  coach.  Yeah.  Who should be in the Hall of Fame. So, that that’s where the binder came from.  Yeah.  And it was a long interview and it worked out okay, but I knew what I was getting into. It was a tough place.  Yeah. You just talked about media. Understand how to control that.

 Is that the toughest media market you think in the NFL?  Yeah, it’s one of them. I mean, I had a chance to talk to Bill Parcells. We played the Jets my first year in the preseason and he goes, like you’re in the toughest place ever.    Right there and he’s in New York at the time. I’m going, all right.

 All right.  This is the toughest place. So, I knew it wasn’t that part wasn’t going to be easy, but I was honest with them and and I mean, we always talked about you don’t have to say everything.  Right.  Tell the whole story, but you better whatever you say comes out whatever comes out of your mouth, you better be the truth.

 Yeah.  You better be able to stand behind it.  That’s right.  And so, you know, that that was part of it.  We know that the the Philly market is is tough in terms of the media, but I’ll tell you what, man, being a being a fan of Jason and being a fan of the Eagles, the Eagles organization treating me like family in there.

 What was your biggest takeaway in Philly coaching for the Eagles out there?  Yeah, so I mean I Jeff Lurie I’m I’m close with to this day. Um he treated me great. The people there uh you you add you gain a badge of honor if you can make it through there still standing.    So they’ve they’ve been great um through some tough times.

 I mean there were tough times along the way and whether it was on the field or off the field and uh they were right there with me. Uh but they’re going to let you know. I mean they’re going to let you know. One thing I I could say about it is they’re going to let you know they’re like a coach and a player.

 If you stink, they’re going to tell you you stink and if you’re good, they’re going to tell you you’re good. And there’s no in between. There’s nothing in between.  That’s right.  So it’s a tough place but um it’s a good place.  Yeah. Would you have done anything differently in your time in Philly?  Uh no. I’m you know, no.

 I mean there there things you learn along the way. Yes. But I I think we we were able to go to five championship games and a Super Bowl and and uh I I think the organization hadn’t been doing great and then we were able to kind of get them moved up uh the chain there in in the NFL and it worked out okay. So I think things there was at least a foundation there that everybody could build on and  Yeah.

 And go win the Super Bowl like you guys did.  Yeah. With a former player and coach of yours. Yeah.  Uh that was awesome.  You just talked about like the badge of honor. I don’t Do you think that that Philadelphia media fan base I feel like there’s like a sense of urgency in that city that like you got to come to work every day. You get like Have you carried that over? Did you have that in Green Bay or did that does Do you think that affects the organization in the  Yeah.

 Green Bay for a different reason because of the history there.  Sure. Yeah.  I mean you feel that legacy that that takes place there. And and then in Philly, you know, they’ll give you two strikes and you’re out.    You know, you’re done. And and so you’ve got to bring Yeah, you do. You bring your A game every day. I mean, if you’re off a tick, there’s you’re going to hear about it and so you make sure that you prepare and you’re organized and all those things that you you need to be.

 Yeah.  No, let’s move on to some Chiefs talk now.  All right, there we go.  I get out of Philly, man. You know what I’m saying? And let’s talk some QBs. When did you know that I wasn’t a QB?  Well, there were a couple different times.    If you want to take it back take it back to New York, there was a  Oh, hey oh.

 I just listen, if and don’t run the ball.  There you go. 80 or he wants he’s not he’s  told him? He he is to set the coaching point. You told him.  Which is do not Travis, do not throw this ball. You’re not making a read. It’s either there or you’re running it.  He wanted to see if he could beat my pump pass and pick up.

   It was a good throw. It was a dart.  Yeah, it’s all right.    And then we come back and we’ve got this play we called it Black Pearl and it was a beautiful thing.  Yeah.   And and we we get Tyreek to toss it to Kelce and and Patrick goes in the end zone and although he almost stepped out of bounds and he should have been deeper.

But    one corner plays both of them.  It’s like Monty in the  And your bro I’m not going to talk to him. I’m not going to look at what your brother choked.  Yeah.  So Patrick  He got He got there and it was Oh, man.  And then and then hold it. Not only that, so this is like in the first second quarter.

 It ruined him the rest of the game.  Oh, I didn’t even want to be there. Yeah.  He didn’t want to be there.  Good thing Tyreek had 300 yards.  This guy’s got like the best arm ever.    And this was like a five-yard not even a five-yard throw. He could have run it in.  It was all bad, man. It was all bad.  But but he came back. He came back.

 the charm, baby.  That’s right. Came back.  Third time’s the charm in the playoffs. We needed it the most.  in Philly.  No, seriously, when did you know that Patrick Mahomes was the real deal? Was it watching him in Tech or kind of getting him in the building and  Yeah. I give credit to Brett Veach on that one.

 Cuz Brett uh  Shout out to Veach.  Brett was a scout at the time and and from the first time that kid played, Dorsey and I had tapes on our desk. And and uh said, “You got to watch this guy. You have to watch him.” And for 2 years or however years it was, we watched this kid and Veach goes, “This is the best guy I’ve ever seen.

” And he’s just he’s that good. And Veach did the Southwest or Southeast area and that’s where the hot bed and you know, so Dorsey and I go, “Yeah, this guy’s pretty good.” Now,    so about 2 years later and then and then I think once he stepped into the league and he did that game at Denver where we wrapped up our playoff spot.

And he got to jump in and go in a game. I mean, he he did what he did in practice, what he did at Tech and I go, “That’s that’s pretty good.” We had Alex Smith  At the time it was also good. Yeah.  That was his best year.  Yeah. We said on the show that Matt Nagy secretly gave Pat the answers to the draft interview.

Did you know that he had the answers?  And did that interview impress you if you did not?  Yeah, so  listen, Veach No, no. So Veach and Nagy were teammates.  Ah!  They were at Delaware State, Delaware. They were in cahoots.  Yeah.  That did give it away.    So I had a couple of curve balls just to throw in there.

 Just a couple of curve balls. And and he handled them, right?  Nice.  I knew  Pat Mahomes can hit the curve ball, baby.  That’s right. That’s right. Just couple curve balls.  That was good stuff.  What goes on in like evaluating a QB from a from a coach and like the GM perspective?  Yeah, I think you got to get to know the guy and see what he’s all about.

 You go to combine and and the answers are kind of packaged there with answers and I think that’s easy. Um and don’t get a ton out of them. But you you get a guy, you lock him in a room for 8 hours, and then you go over a whole install, make him spit it back at you, and and then throw questions at him on how you’d handle this round.

 By the time you get done with that 8 hours, you’ve got a pretty good feel on what the guy’s about. Um, we did six of I believe it was six of them that year. And uh, it was their day in in the building here, and so by the time they left, we kind of I think we’re pretty accurate with it, actually, as we went through and have looked now with the history part of it.

 Yeah.  We’re pretty accurate on our evaluation. Takes a lot of time, though.  Yeah.  When you when you’re evaluating quarterbacks, is there anything that you What makes Pat Mahomes, in your mind, so much different than every other quarterback out there? Like, what is unique about him?  Well, if he’s in a bind, he just throws a dime.

 That’s not a bad safety.    Uh, I’ll tell you, he’s just he’s got a good way about him. He He was raised in a locker room, so he’s got that feel.  Yeah.  He’s a natural leader, but he’s humble.  Yeah.  Uh, he’s easy to coach. I mean, he’s going to listen.

 You can coach him hard, and then at the same time, he wants everything you can throw at him.  Yeah.  And, you know, both you guys were great players, and if there’s one thing I’ve noticed in coaching over the years is the great players want to want you to give them one more thing so they can even be greater than what they are. So, they’re they’re always asking, “Hey, what do you got? What do you got? What do you got?” You know, and  Yeah.

 and um, I saw that with Brett. I saw it with Reggie White, and I mean, I saw with the different guys, Sterling Sharpe, all these guys that phenomenal players, and Brian Dawkins, and the list goes on. So, right. But they just want to give me one more thing to make you make me better than what I am.

 And so, it’s a great driver for a coach to to do. But anyways, that uh, that’s Pat’s got that. I mean, he he wants you to load him up and challenge him, and he’s going to work, and he’s dedicated. I mean, you know, I mean, he during the week he’s not going out. He’s going to try he’s going to stay in and study and do his thing and  All the time.

 Yeah, that’s how that’s how he rolls.  Well, he uh he has a bunch of ridiculous records. Um one of the most ridiculous is his come-from-behind record. When it’s in the heat of the battle and and we’re kind of in that, you know, that trailing position, what does it feel like when you just you see Mahomes out there just take control of the game? Like, what is that feeling for you as the head coach?  Well, it’s a little bit like in the Super Bowl.

Um I’m I’m telling you this not to rub it in or anything, but  It’s all right.    It’s going to be all we’ll be good for me. Oh, we’ll get you that handkerchief. Just just just hang  on.  I’ll pass it to you.  I’ll lend you my shirt. Yeah, we’ll be good. Um everybody in that locker room knew that [clears throat] we had the ability, if we just straighten a couple things out, to come back.

 That to me is reassuring as a coach, but you’ve got to have players that believe in that.  Yeah.  So, it’s one thing for the coaches to believe in it and say it. Um it’s another thing when you’re saying it to guys that truly have that feeling in their heart. So, 10 points, we know isn’t a big thing and 20 points, 21 points is not a big thing.

 We’ve we’ve done that. And and so, that’s uh that’s a good feeling from you know, when you’re sitting in the head coach’s [music] seat.  Right on.  Yeah.  Well, I’ll tell you what, you were dialing them things up, coach. All right, well, let’s uh let’s keep talking some uh Super Bowl 57, man. So, we just won our second Super Bowl in a second.

Uh did the second feel better or how did it compare to the first one?  Yeah, I think it did feel better, actually. And it it wasn’t because it was the Eagles. That’s not the reason. It It was the first one was a whirlwind. It just everything was moving fast.    And then the second one was weird because of COVID.

 Mhm.  And and we lost. And then the third one was just uh uh you were able to just of step back and take everything in.  Yeah.  And you still know that there’s a challenge ahead of you coming up for the season, but you’re able to enjoy it for that that moment there. And it was just I’ll remember that part where the first one was a little bit foggy.

 Just go just rapid fire and I I hear you. Everyone’s pretty excited, huh? Did you feel more pressure the the first time or the second time? First the first win or the second win? We want to know.  I I’m not Listen, I I didn’t get caught up in that.  Yeah.  I I’m not I didn’t feel the pressure that way.

 I I you feel the pressure to do well like uh if that’s a pressure. It’s that angst that drives you, you know, that you you want to you want your guys to to show well. They busted their butt to get to this point. And let’s just do that.  Yeah.  And then let the chips fall where they may. If it if it’s not good enough, then the other team’s better, but let’s not go out and lay an egg.

 Yeah.  Let’s not do that.  How was it seeing guys that you drafted and former players that you’ve you’ve coached over the years? How does that feel seeing them across the field and playing against them?  Yeah, that was weird. That that was different. That was a little different.  Graham, Butch  I mean I you look across and [clears throat] the people I I know people across the field there.

Yeah, there was actually one time I I probably shouldn’t even say it, but I’m going to say it. Um because of you two and nobody else is going to hear it. So    So there was one point where I was back talking with Pat. My back was to the field. And I heard the cheer and I I turned around and your tight end caught the ball.

 Yeah.  And for a minute I went, “Hey, nice    You know. It was weird. That was  My guy got it.  But yeah, it was just the one time. And uh the rest of the time I was all red.  Yeah,  I’m not going to lie. There was after I think it was with the first or the second touchdown they scored and that dang on fly Eagles fly is coming on.

 Yeah.  I got caught going like this just a little bit to the fly Eagles fight. I’m like, “No, no, snap out of it. Snap out of it.”  Yeah, no, it was back it was like dueling banjos, man. It was back and forth. So  All game.  Great game. It got deemed the Kelce Bowl.  Yeah.  Should it should it have been it in our mind it should have been the Andy Reid Bowl?  Cuz you had your fingerprints over both organizations in such a way I don’t know.

 I I just think it’s Has that ever happened in the NFL where a head  coach has played his former team that he was with for over a decade, players that he drafted, coaches that he coached with, you know, the front office. I mean, I don’t know.  Yeah, that was weird. I I I don’t know if it has. It was It was a great experience. Um I thought it was unique.

Uh but when I saw your mom’s shoes, I go, “This is the Mrs. Kelce Bowl.”  [screaming]  She was She was rocking.  Those are Hall of Fame shoes right there.  That’s right. That’s right.  Those are Hall of Fame shoes. They just threw it They just threw those things up in cam, baby.  I know. I saw it. I like it.

 Shout out to Mama Kelce. Coming into the league, this the offense has changed so freaking much. I mean traditionally I’m I’m the U tight end but Fasano was the Y tight end and it’s very power run oriented offense especially with Jamaal Charles. And I just feel like this tight end position is kind of changed throughout it all.

 I just wanted to kind of see it from your point of view. Have Have you just created an offense with four wide receivers or is the tight end position still available in this offense?    Yeah. So we call it a tight end.  Yeah.  It still has the Y in the play book. That’s right.  It’s unique because of how you put your flair on it and your ability to work in space and and do all of that.

 You know, and so it’s changed it it has. It’s changed the game. It’s given a lot of tight ends that maybe aren’t that in-line crusher an opportunity.  Mhm.  And then with the rules that the league has put in for offenses to flourish, it it’s given the tight ends that opportunity to flourish. And and then different lot different rules.

 Yeah, I guess how’s the league changed in I got to ask this now cuz I mean you’ve been coaching for a long time. How has the league changed?  Yeah, so I can give you I give you an example. When I was in Philly, Green Bay,  Yeah.  uh went to what, three Super Bowls, right? Two in Green Bay, one in Philly.

 Mhm.  And there wasn’t a snap that any of the quarterbacks on our the team that I was co- had an opportunity to coach, uh that was in the shotgun.  Holy cow.  And today very few times is a  Are you under center?  Yeah, probably less than 50% are you under  Short yardage, goal line, yeah.  Yeah. So, I mean it’s evolved that way.

Technology has evolved, the game, you know, the the media and and the that parity that you get by the league rules, but also by players knowing each other and what everybody’s doing on every team because of you know, the iPhones and that that stuff, communication  TV copies and everybody’s miked up at all times.

 That’s right. That’s right.  Players go from one organization  Yeah. And we can tell you how many times your heart beats in a practice. I mean it’s That wasn’t the case back then. Yeah, so.  Who wins, the teams from today’s NFL or a team from one of those Green Bay teams?  I still think the um they would compete, for sure.

 Yeah.  The talent [clears throat] and the size and the that that are similar. You know, San Francisco’s doing it. They’re a little bit tighter.  Yeah.  They have a little bit more under center.  Yeah.  Uh you know, there are few other teams that are doing that type of thing, shotgun offense.  Yeah, yeah.

 So, I think it would it would work. I I would think though that you’d have to bounce back. When I when we lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots  Patriots, yeah.  in Philly we had to get into the gun after that. With all the double A stuff that was going on.  what they did?  Yeah.  So yeah.  Yeah.

 So we we that next year we we started popping back into the gun.  Yeah.  And you’d have to incorporate that in there. But other than that, I think the talent is very similar. We did a lot of two-back stuff back then. You know, there’s not a lot of that in the league. San Francisco would be one of the teams. Now, the fullback is kind of been eased out of the game a little  Now, teams try to do some of that fullback stuff with the the second tight end in the off position.

 You kind of get to some of those runs, but it’s not the same.  Yeah, it’s definitely a little bit different.  Mount Rushmore of fast food burgers, what do you got?  Uh so my my grandson’s been hammering me on this uh every little league game we go out for cheeseburgers. So I I go Town Topic, which is right down the road.

 I go  Okay.  uh Five Guys and and Whataburger to support Pat. I mean, you know, we got to do that.  I still got to go to Texas Whataburger.  make enough money.  Yeah, already.  [clears throat and laughter]  So I’m sure I’m I’m missing one, but uh those are the ones that we hit and I need to stop hitting them.

 Yeah.   They’re starting to hit back.  Right?  Town Topic’s good any time of the day, too. It’s a late night late night diner. Is that the diner’s or Jason’s gig, too? So we might have to stop there while we’re here.  Six seats are right now.  What’s your favorite play call of all time?  Well, it was snow globe.

 Yeah, I like that one. That’s the  Yeah?  Yeah, the ring. But it’s more of a ring around the rosy. How’d you get snow globe?  Well, it was I mean, you know  It was It was a Christmas It was a season?  Yeah, right around the season.  Yeah, Rudolph first and all this.    So it it But that was kind of fun.

 Yeah. What’s the narrative about Andy Reid that you feel is unfair or maybe not correct?  I’m really a skinny guy.    It’s just the cameras put a lot of weight on me.  Me, too.  No, I Listen, I don’t know. I Probably that I don’t have a sense of humor. I, you know, Well, we’re clearly dispelling that right now.

 Okay. Good.    Who was funnier, you in the State Farm commercial or Travis in SNL?  Yeah, I’m going to tell you what, man. He’s a rock star.  Isn’t he good?  I don’t even know if I can give him a good grade. I’m going to be able to coach him.    Huh? I’m going to It’s going to be, you know, like they do in college football.

 I’m going to yell at him, he’s going to leave. He’s going to go  become a movie star.  He’s just going to give me that brow, though.  I got to say, both of you  Yeah.  When he gives When he gives you that brow, baby, you know.  Yeah. Yeah.  You know.  You’re done messing around.  How tired are you of seeing that punt passing kick competition video come up on the screen every year?  Yeah.

Yeah, very tired.  You got to let You got to let them know right here, though. It what It was a age range.  Oh, yeah. So,  The kid wasn’t The kid next to you wasn’t the  Yeah, 8-year-old. I was 13. There was a line, two lines.    So, it went eight, you know, 9, 10, 11, 13. And then you rotate, right? So, that kid was not the same age as  as Yeah, let’s get that straight.

 And you did win it, right?  Uh I didn’t win that one.  What?  Yeah, I won the one before it.    Fourth and goal, ball on the one. What you call? Game on the line.  This is how it is. You just    You’ll never know until it happens, baby.  That’s right. That’s right. Coach, I can’t thank you for coming on the show with us enough.

 I appreciate you. It’s been  an honor having the man that drafted both my brother and I on here, who’s had such an important role in both of our careers and impact. Um thank you so much for coming on, coach.  Oh, you guys just keep being you, man.  That’s right.  I always got to give you your flowers, big guy.

 The best leader, the best teacher, and doggone the best play caller that I’ve ever freaking been around, baby. I love working with you.  And the best guy to wear a Hawaiian shirt.  Thank you.  I mean, come on now.  And those of you that think he’s just the best offensive mind and best head coach.

 He’s got the only only tight end coach in the entire history of the league to have two all-pro tight ends in one season. He’s the best tight end coach ever ever to play the game, too, baby. Had to throw that little fun fact in there.  I appreciate that. All righty, that wraps up this episode of New Heights. Thank you so much for tuning in to the Andy Reid episode.

Coach Reid. Um make sure you subscribe on YouTube to the New Heights channel. And so you can check out when all the new episodes are dropping and uh listen to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Amidst analyses of tactics, Mahomes’ return, and the offensive performance, Jason particularly highlighted how Coach Andy Reid spoke about his younger brother.

According to Jason, Reid’s praise wasn’t just empty flattery, but genuine, sincere, profound, and reflecting the true value Travis has brought to the team after 14 seasons. Big Red isn’t one to easily give flowery praise, Jason shared on the podcast in his characteristic serious yet warm tone. When he talked about Travis after this game, you could feel the genuine appreciation.

Not just for the long ball or the number of yards, but for how Travis is still present, still leading, and still willing to contribute at this age. That’s praise that carries weight. Jason further explained that Reid is known for his calm, understated style, rarely exaggerating. When he does praise a player, his words are usually concise but to the point.

Following the victory against the Broncos, from what Jason observed in press conferences and internal information, Reid gave special praise to Travis’s preparation, spirit, and influence in the locker room and on the court. Jason believes this is recognition for a player who has been a long-time follower of Reid’s philosophy from his early days at Kansas City to the present.

He recounted the special relationship between Reid and the Kelce brothers. Jason had played under Reid’s guidance with the Philadelphia Eagles, while Travis became one of the Big Red’s most successful products with the Chiefs. He understands Trav so well. He knows when Trav needs encouragement and when he needs to be controlled.

The praise after the Broncos game wasn’t for a single beautiful play, but for the whole process, from the decision to return for his 14th season, his focus during the off season, to how Trav continues to bring positive energy to the team. Jason further analyzed the significance of those compliments in the current context.

At 36, Travis still faces questions about his career future. Many question whether this might be his last season. Meanwhile, Reid has jokingly hinted at the possibility of both of them leaving at some point in the future. Therefore, according to Jason, Reid’s public recognition of Travis’s contribution after the opening win was an affirmation.

 Travis is still an important part of the team, still trusted, and still influential. It wasn’t the kind of praise to please the media, Jason emphasized. That’s praise from someone who’s watched Trav grow over the years, through Super Bowls, through tough moments. When Big Red says that,  it means more to Trav than any other compliment.

The podcast continued with Travis. He responded humbly as usual, thanking his brother and coach, and emphasizing that the victory was a collective effort. Travis mentioned Mahomes’ return, Walker’s resurgence, and the team spirit. However, he also acknowledged that Reid’s words always provide special motivation.

Coach Reid understands me. When he says something positive, I know it’s true. It helps me focus on what’s ahead. Jason didn’t stop there. He expanded on the value of genuine recognition in the high-pressure environment of professional sports. Many older players face skepticism from the outside. Praise from the head coach, especially from some