The Kelce brothers dominated headlines after Week 2. On Sept. 17, 2025, former Eagles center Jason Kelce issued a blunt warning to his old team over its signature “tush push” play after a 20-17 win at Kansas City, while Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce publicly shielded Patrick Mahomes from blame for a critical interception. The two incidents, one about officiating scrutiny and the other about accountability, captured how quickly narratives can flip early in the NFL season.
Jason Kelce Sounds Alarm on Philly’s Tush Push
Sep 17, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) swaps jerseys with Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) after the game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
No one knows the Eagles’ quarterback sneak like Jason Kelce, who anchored it for 13 seasons. On the “New Heights” podcast, he addressed accusations of false starts on the play during Philadelphia’s Week 2 win. Critics argued the Eagles gained an extra edge on an already powerful formation. Kelce countered that the timing is far more complicated than it appears at full speed.
“People love to point out the false start thing,” Kelce said. “I think it is very difficult…we’re talking about a fraction of a second. … As an offensive line, it’s imperative you get off on the snap…sometimes you’re a little bit early.”
He then warned his former teammates that enforcement could tighten quickly. “They’re going to be under a microscope moving forward. Everybody is going to be looking at this because of what happened…they need to be very, very cautious because the calls are going to be starting to come,” Kelce continued.
Kelce reinforced that on X, pointing out that banning the play would not solve neutral-zone issues:
“It is an extremely hard thing to officiate…and good players on both sides of the ball jump the snap…Getting rid of the tush push will not stop the issue everyone is riled up about.”
Jason and Travis both weighed in on the latest controversy surrounding false starts on the Tush Push pic.twitter.com/xJr0OooXb7
— New Heights (@newheightshow) September 17, 2025
The NFL discussed restricting the play last spring but left it legal. Philadelphia’s dominance in short yardage, 16 conversions on 17 tries in 2024, means officials’ reactions could swing key drives this season.
Travis Kelce Shields Patrick Mahomes After Costly Pick
While Jason Kelce dissected mechanics, Travis Kelce faced fallout from the Chiefs’ 0-2 start, their first since 2014. Kansas City fell 20-17 to Philadelphia after a fourth-quarter interception of a Patrick Mahomes pass intended for Kelce, snagged by Eagles rookie Andrew Mukuba. On “New Heights,” Jason asked about the play. Mahomes had already told reporters he threw a tad early.
Travis rejected that narrative.
“The ball was where it needed to be when it needed to be there. I just got to get my head around out of the break,” he said. He added he texted Mahomes immediately to own the mistake: “It’s one of those plays where it happens bang, bang…And I just got to be able to get my head around right so that I don’t put myself in a position to let the ball surprise me like that.”
The Chiefs’ passing game has averaged 7.1 yards per attempt through two weeks, but red-zone turnovers have cost them. Kansas City faces a must-win in Week 3 at the Giants on Sunday Night Football. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense has generated eight sacks and four takeaways, but Andy Reid’s offense must solve New York’s blitz to avoid a 0-3 hole.
By speaking out, both Kelces reframed two of Week 2’s biggest storylines, one about a controversial play, the other about accountability after a loss, showing how quickly the NFL spotlight shifts when September mistakes meet September scrutiny.