Andy Reid questions why Chargers player wasn’t ejected after Travis Kelce strike

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid remained perplexed by the decision not to eject Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart from Friday night’s game after he struck Travis Kelce in the head.                    

Speaking to the media Monday ahead of the Chiefs’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Reid was asked about the NFL rule that called for an unnecessary roughness penalty as opposed to an automatic suspension. 

Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Teair Tart (90) at training camp at The Bolt.  (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

“Yeah, I don’t understand that – that rule,” Reid said. 

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The incident took place in the third quarter after Kelce continued to block after the whistle was blown. Tart appeared to strike Kelce with an open-handed blow in retaliation. 

“I guess it’s open-hand fist, whatever, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know what their decision was on that. But he definitely got hit in the head pretty hard whether it was an open fist or a closed fist,” Reid continued. 

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game on Sept. 5, 2025, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)

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According to the NFL rulebook, an open-hand strike is illegal but does not call for a mandated disqualification. A closed-fist punch would call for an automatic disqualification. 

Reid was asked if he had gotten clarity from the league regarding the decision.

“Yeah, I will work that out with the league.” 

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a press conference ahead of a NFL football game against Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.  (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

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While Tart did not face additional repercussions from the league for the play, he was called out by Taylor Swift fans on social media. He responded by posting a photo on Instagram with a caption that read, “I’m too swift with it even in Brazil…” 

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