Fights break out across NFL training camps, as Travis Kelce engages in heated shoving match while sticking up for his Kansas City Chiefs teammates.
The NFL is back.
And fights are already breaking out throughout the league.
Skirmishes at training camps are the surest sign that football has returned.
On Wednesday, several team-on-team clashes erupted across America.
Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs got into it.
So did Derek Stingley Jr. and the Houston Texans.
Kelce’s pushing and shoving of a Chiefs teammate garnered the most attention, as Patrick Mahomes’ tight end and Taylor Swift’s fiancé defended his rights.
“This team has won two years in a row, and they are still hungry,” a supporter tweeted.
But the heaviest blow came from within the Texans, as practice threatened to devolve into a full-fledged brawl — with cushioned helmets, of course.
“Sting’s got that dog in him,” one fan tweeted.
In-team fights during training camp are an annual occurrence as teams throughout the NFL prepare for Week 1 of the regular season.
Following the longest break in professional sports, the NFL rapidly returns to top gear, with names, stats, wins, and legacies on the line.
The Texans had a successful 10-7 season in 2023 and have even better aspirations this year.
The Kansas City Chiefs are seeking to become the first club in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
Kansas City defensive end George Karlaftis went for wide receiver Kadarius Toney on a play that was not expected to finish with a physical altercation.
Kelce looked to take offense and stand up for Toney, arguing with Karlaftis and pushing him.
NFL coaches typically despise intra-team fights.
But there’s a reason why it happens early in training camp every year, and Kelce’s violent shove was definitely intended to convey a message.
Jobs and dignity are at stake, and becoming chippy with a teammate can be the finest way to prepare for a new season.
Then, during Week 1, form a team and assault the opponent on the opposite side.
