In a recent episode of the “New Heights” podcast, co-hosted by Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce and his elder brother, Philadelphia Eagles’ Jason Kelce, the Tight End opened up about an unforgettable encounter with the legendary Tom Brady.
Kelce’s revelation shed light on the potent pre-game ritual that fueled the Patriots’ iconic gridiron magic during his tenure in New England Patriots.
Kelce vividly recalled Brady’s tradition of running down the sidelines to rev up his teammates during their warm-up routine.
In a candid moment, Kelce admitted to playfully mocking the GOAT during one such episode.
“I mocked him a little bit,” Kelce confessed, reflecting on that fateful day.
“And I could see him go from getting hyped with fans to looking at me and just, like, turning that switch on. Like, ‘Who the f–k is this young dude mocking me right now?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, s–t. Hope I didn’t just create a beast for the defense.’ I just poked the bear.”
As Kelce recounted this pivotal moment, he admitted to feeling a palpable shift in the atmosphere.
“I felt it… That’s not the guy you wanna poke,” he asserted, his respect for the veteran quarterback evident in his words. “Learned that lesson real quick. Shout-out to Tom.”
The consequences of “poking the bear” became apparent during that season’s divisional round of the playoffs when the New England Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27–20, advancing to the AFC Championship for the fifth consecutive year.
Despite their remarkable effort, the Patriots were bested on the road by the eventual Super Bowl 50 champions, the Denver Broncos, with a score of 20–18.
In a climax to that season, the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos emerged victorious, defeating the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Carolina Panthers with a final score of 24–10 to claim the prestigious Super Bowl 50 title.
