Justin Tucker has seen a lot on the field in his 12-year NFL career, but the pregame incident before Sunday’s AFC Championship game was a first for the veteran kicker.
Tucker, who’s spent his entire career with Baltimore, explained what happened on the field when he was stretching near Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce came over and threw his helmet and practice balls out of the way.
“The way it works is each team’s kicker goes to the other team’s designated warmup area on the field,” Tucker told reporters Monday while at his locker.
“For me, it’s usually 90 mins before kickoff. I’ve been doing the exact same thing for 12 years, never really had a problem with anybody. I saw Patrick there trying to warm up and get some drop backs. He asked me while I was on the ground stretching if I could move my helmet.
“I happily got up and I moved my helmet out of the way — at least I thought it was enough out of the way — and then Travis comes over and just kicks my stuff and throws my helmet. I thought it was all just some gamesmanship, all in good fun, but they seemed to be taking it a little bit more seriously.”
In pregame videos, Tucker was seen stretching while Mahomes was warming up in one of the end zones at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Kelce then walked over and tossed Tucker’s practice balls and helmet off to the side while the kicker continued stretching.
Things did not escalate further, and Tucker added that everyone was cordial during the coin toss and got on with the game.
“I’m totally willing to let it all go,” the All-Pro kicker said. “But that’s just what I’ve done for 12 years and it’s not like I’m out there trying to be problematic. I’m just trying to get ready for the football game, just like they are, and that’s all I really gotta say about it, just to be clear.
“Never had an issue with anybody. At the end of the day, we’re all professionals just trying to get ready for the football game. Those are two of the best players that have ever played the game at their respective positions. They were just trying to get ready for the football game. Obviously it’s an intense environment, so it’s really whatever to me, man. I’m just trying to get ready for the football game.”
Tucker said he thought it was “kind of silly” that he had to explain the situation.
“I find it kind of silly that we’re even having to address it or talk about something that happened before the game that I really don’t see as a big deal,” he added.
