The action kicked off immediately in Saturday’s AFC Wild Card game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans, as the Chiefs returned the opening kickoff to the Houston 32-yard line. Defensive back Kris Boyd of the Texans tried to tackle the returner, forcing a fumble that seemed to shift the game’s momentum; however, Kansas City quickly recovered the fumble, negating Houston’s opportunity.
In the chaos of the moment, Boyd was penalized for excessive celebration after the tackle and was seen by ESPN shoving his special teams coach, Frank Ross. As the broadcast cut to a commercial, announcer Joe Buck highlighted the incident, showcasing a replay of Boyd’s action. From that point onward, ESPN hurried past the importance of the incident and Boyd’s behavior for the remainder of the game.
The Texans’ Kris Boyd shoves special teams coordinator Frank Ross.
Yikes. #NFL pic.twitter.com/pZNQfLEkFr
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 18, 2025
This decision drew criticism from Buck, game analyst Troy Aikman, and sideline reporter Lisa Salters for not adequately addressing the significance of the moment or any potential repercussions for Boyd. Sports reporters like Andrew Marchand from The Athletic and Michael McCarthy from Front Office Sports noted on social media that the broadcast team glossed over Boyd’s actions.
I think Buck and Aikman could’ve made a bigger deal about a player just shoving his coach
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) January 18, 2025
Hey ESPN, tells us what’s happening with Kris Boyd of the Texans?
Is he coming back after shoving his special teams coach?
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) January 18, 2025
Following the game, Boyd addressed the media and stated that he and Ross had reconciled, explaining that he let his emotions get the better of him and had misunderstood Ross’s instructions at that moment. While Ross was urging Boyd to maintain focus early in the game, Boyd was caught off guard after making a significant play. “That’s not in my character, I love everybody here,” Boyd expressed. “I love my coaches. I would never disrespect anybody… I love Frank.”
#Texans Kris Boyd explains what happened on helmet toss and apologizes, says he and Frank Ross are good @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/VOE2QBixLy
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 19, 2025
Afterward, Boyd elaborated more on his Instagram, revealing that he had been unaware of the penalty amidst the emotions of the game. “The media won’t assassinate me as if I’m a bad person,” he posted, along with a screenshot of a hateful message he received on Instagram. This situation highlights the challenging dynamics the ESPN crew faces in such moments. Given that the penalty and the shove ultimately did not impact the game significantly, it might not have warranted extensive coverage. However, Buck’s narration of the incident set an expectation among viewers for a thorough follow-up.
With Boyd having returned to the game afterward, it would have been an opportunity for Aikman, as a former player, to discuss the incident further. Although ESPN doesn’t fully control audience perceptions during broadcasts, neglecting this conclusion likely stands out as a misstep that they may reconsider in hindsight.
