With a three-peat fantasy in front of them, there were many detours for the Chiefs. Some ugly, others familiar, or both. “KC Cheats,” they called them. As for the former, with their families and Swift romance, all working overtime off the field may have left them overexposed—political moments in the doldrums, Harrison Butker’s “Asshole of the Year” stint, the divisive team coming from a red state that has become more politically locked down, or them just having it too easy—it can get hard to keep the eyes on the ball. Although there are too many moving parts to the story, they all contribute to the fact that the Kansas City Chiefs weren’t just facing the Philadelphia Eagles—they were battling a wave of public resentment. The Birds were cast as the league’s last hope, the Rebel Alliance to the Chiefs’ Galactic Empire.

Many were simply tired of the Chiefs winning while others clung to accusations that the franchise was getting away with favorable officiating decisions. While the likes of Tom Brady defended the Chiefs against the wave of hate, many just wanted to see them stumble, and when they did they were ready to pounce.

Even Jason Kelce, the longtime Eagles center, and Travis Kelce’s brother, came under scrutiny. Some Eagles fans questioned his loyalty and others raised doubts over his support for his brother. As such he was torn before the Super Bowl and revealed how he had a “terrible” experience. But his brother was there to take his side and answer to the critics and Rashee Rice also had some words for the haters—words that cut through the noise like a well-timed post route.

On his New Heights podcast on Wednesday, Jason Kelce talked about the tight spot he was in before the Super Bowl. “It was hard to navigate because I’m trying to say that I have people on the Eagles that I love and I also have you. I tried to make it known that I was rooting for you (Travis). It felt like no matter what I said, some people were going to skew it and say I’m rooting for the Eagles and some people were going to skew it and say I was rooting for the Chiefs or Travis,” Jason said.

The Eagles fans believed that Jason should have shown loyalty to the team he played for 13 years while many Chiefs fans thought he should’ve been rooting for his brother. After the game, he posted a bittersweet congratulatory message for the Eagles, which led to more backlash and accusations that he wasn’t loyal to his brother. While Jason passionately defended himself, Travis Kelce made it clear that he wasn’t answerable to the critics.

“Everybody just wants to f***ing call people out. I know I always had your support and I joked around about you cheering for the Eagles…I know who Jason Kelce is and I know my brother and what his intentions are. Nobody can ever f***ing confuse that. And you can’t let these (people) online make you think that you’re in the wrong for what you’re saying. 

You don’t owe any of these d***heads the acknowledgment. You really don’t Jason. Everybody that knows you, knows your intentions. Anybody saying anything otherwise is, like you said, is just trying to get a rise out of somebody else,” Travis said as he rallied behind his brother who choked up while talking about supporting him.

Jason has always been on Travis’ side as seen last year during the AFC Championship game against the Bills. As Travis caught two touchdowns, his brother was seen celebrating wildly and shirtless while chugging down beers. But when you are associated with the Chiefs, criticism is bound to follow.

The Chiefs were scrutinized throughout the season with many alleging favoritism from the NFL. Those calls were amplified during the playoff run in games against the Texans and the Bills when certain debatable calls went their way. Then there was the Taylor Swift factor where the likes of Bills legend Andre Reed said that when you are up against the Chiefs, “You got to beat the refs. You got to beat Taylor Swift. You gotta beat everybody.”

On top of that, the Chiefs were far from dominant this season, despite winning a franchise-record 15 games. 13 of their 16 games (not including a 38-0 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 18 when the starters sat) were decided by 10 points or fewer. Their point differential of plus-59 during the regular season was the team’s worst since 2012. Hence, there was a growing belief about whether the Chiefs even deserved to be in the Super Bowl game in the first place.

But they were there, only to be blitzed by the Eagles. However, it’s not just about losing—it’s about how you lose. The Birds pressured Patrick Mahomes into oblivion (no one’s forgetting the sack, sack, pick 6 anytime soon), and suddenly, the same team everyone praised for years is now under question. Now, that their empire lay in tatters, more criticism is flung at their way. The injured Rashee Rice rallied the same energy as Travis Kelce for all the Chiefs Kingdom as he wrote on his Instagram story: “Your BIGGEST hater is never a stranger. Love Yourself! Be Proud of Yourself and never let them know ya next move!”

But the Chiefs will keep moving. If history has shown us anything, it’s that they don’t dwell on setbacks—they reload. The last time they lost a Super Bowl, they bounced back to win the next two out of three.

As for Rashee Rice, he wants his red and gold squad to pick up the pieces and run it back again next season because he wants a piece of it that he missed this time.

Rashee Rice can’t wait for 2025 any longer

But there are still some months left before Rashee Rice can run defenses. So, let’s rewind. You see, Rice didn’t know how bad it was. Not at first. He thought he’d miss a play or two, maybe shake it off. But as he tried to walk, the pain hit differently. An MRI confirmed what he never wanted to hear—LCL tear, surgery, season over. Just like that, his breakout year was gone. The Chiefs’ offense adjusted, but let’s be real—Rice’s absence was felt.

By week 4, Rice was tracking for a monster season. Over 1,200 yards? Easy. Touchdowns? Plenty. He was becoming the guy in KC’s offense. Then, in a cruel twist, a collision with Patrick Mahomes on an interception turned his season into a rehab grind. Instead of chasing records, he was chasing stability—literally. And yeah, he peeked at the leaderboards, wondering what could’ve been. But sulking? Not his style.

“The knee is doing great,” Rice said. He’s been attacking rehab with everything from kettlebells to blood flow restriction training—essentially tricking his muscles into thinking they’re lifting heavy when they’re not. It’s all about mobility, balance, and getting back to full speed. Because in his mind, the clock is ticking. He’s itching to be back out there.

And when he is? He’s not coming back just to be a feel-good story. The Chiefs falling short in the ’24 season is not leaving him anytime soon. “I have guys around me who constantly remind me that I’m a great player,” Rice said. His return isn’t just about him—it’s about unfinished business. The 2025 season can’t get here fast enough.