Patrick Mahomes has finally broken his silence on the Kansas City Chiefs' surprising move to bring in veteran kicker Justin Tucker. The reigning Super Bowl MVP made it clear there's no lingering bad blood between him and his new teammate, despite a heated moment during the 2024 AFC Championship Game.
Speaking at his Wednesday press conference, Mahomes was asked about the on-field exchange with Tucker back in January. The quarterback laughed it off, insisting it was just competitive fire between two players who wanted to win.
"We haven't had a lot of conversations because he's obviously on the Ravens and I was on the Chiefs," Mahomes said. "But it wasn't like we ever had any beef or anything like that. I think at that moment it was just competitors being competitors. It was a big moment for everybody's career, and you're playing the AFC Championship Game. And he's been a big, big-time kicker for a long time. Me and Trav were obviously competing, and we wanted to go out there and win. And that stuff happened. But then you move on from that. I mean, at the end of the day, we're just playing a game, and you want to compete, and you want to win. But it wasn't like we had some like long-standing beef that kind of carried over after the game. It's kind of we won that game, and then I was on to the Super Bowl. So there's nothing hostile, I guess you would say, moving forward from that."
The Chiefs signed Tucker to the practice squad this week, a move that has sparked plenty of debate among fans and analysts. The 35-year-old kicker spent 13 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, making 89.1% of his field goal attempts, but he's been unemployed since the end of the 2024 season.
That unemployment stems from allegations of sexual misconduct. The Baltimore Banner reported that 16 massage therapists accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior during sessions between 2012 and 2016. Tucker has denied the allegations, and no charges have been filed.
Mahomes, ever the diplomat, sidestepped any controversy when asked about the signing. He kept the focus squarely on the field.
"I try not to get too high or too low on anything, but I know (Brett) Veach and them do a great job of bringing great players in," Mahomes said. "But for me, it was about the Denver Broncos, and moving on, and continuing to get better. We have a lot of stuff that we have to clean up, and I think that's the the biggest thing for us is trying to clean up for this big game that we have."
The Chiefs are hoping Tucker can provide a spark, especially since incumbent kicker Harrison Butker has struggled, connecting on just 11 of 16 field goal attempts this season. Butker's inconsistency has been a concern, and the team is clearly exploring options.
Head coach Andy Reid, however, isn't interested in discussing Tucker's off-field issues. When pressed by reporters, Reid was brief and to the point.
"I'm not going to get into all of that," Reid said. "To bring him in here, I did some homework. He's here and he's on the practice squad, so we roll with it."
The decision to sign Tucker has drawn criticism from some corners, but the Chiefs are pressing forward. Tucker's veteran presence could be valuable, especially in high-pressure situations. He's a six-time All-Pro and holds the NFL record for the longest field goal ever made (66 yards).
Whether Tucker gets activated for Sunday's game against the Broncos remains to be seen. But Mahomes made it clear that the team's focus is on getting better and winning games, not on distractions.
"We have a lot of stuff that we have to clean up," Mahomes reiterated. "That's the biggest thing for us."
The Chiefs will look to bounce back from their recent struggles and secure a crucial win in Denver. With Tucker now in the fold, all eyes will be on how they handle the situation both on and off the field.
