Chiefs’ Travis Kelce Regrets Trash Talk Gone Wrong Against Ex-Steeler James Harrison

It’s only fitting that one of the greatest tight ends of all time boasts one the most memorable “Welcome to the NFL” stories.

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce’s story begins in Pittsburgh in a game against Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison, who taught the then-up-and-coming tight end a lesson he’ll never forget.

In a recent episode of New Heights , Kelce recalled the exact moment he regretted trash-talking Harrison early in his Chiefs career. Based on the details revealed in Kelce’s story, it’s likely this moment occurred in either his second or fourth pro season (2014 or ’16, respectively).

“I’ll tell you what, I talked smack to the wrong guy,” Kelce said on Wednesday. “James Harrison, man. I ended up getting his wrath. He played the outside backer position where he’d be sometimes be over number two in the slot. We’re playing in Pittsburgh. I’m talking a little bit of s--- to him. He’s staring at me with the black visor. Can’t really see if he’s looking at me but I know he’s looking at me. Because he’s not saying anything.”

The three-time Super Bowl champ then went on to describe how Harrison humiliated him while busting a Chiefs’ offensive play.

“Couple quarters go by. I’m looking in at the ball because it’s silent cadence. Just absolutely smoked me off the line of scrimmage. F—ed up the whole play. I’m going to Alex [Smith] like, ’I don’t know what you want me to do there.’ … Obviously never talked s— to him again.”

Kelce and Harrison notably met in a 2016–17 divisional round playoff game when the Steelers beat the Chiefs, 18–16, in spite of some officiating controversy .

Fast forward many years later, and Kelce has learned his lesson: Don’t trash-talk players you can’t beat . That hasn’t completely stopped him from engaging in the practice, however.

In the past few seasons against the AFC North alone, the Chiefs star did a little chirping at Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker during Kansas City’s latest Super Bowl-winning campaign, and he also clapped back at the Cincinnati Bengals after winning the 2022 AFC title.

Fans will just have to see what Kelce has in store for the Steelers this upcoming season.