Travis Kelce Accepts Blame for Miscommunication on Mahomes’ Behind-the-Back Pass
The viral play that broke the internet started with a simple mistake, and Kelce owned up to it.
When Patrick Mahomes launched that ridiculous behind-the-back pass during the 2024 preseason, nobody expected what came next. Not the completion. Not the confession. And definitely not the hilarious blame game that followed between two of football’s best friends.
This is the full story of how a busted play turned into one of the most replayed highlights of the year.
The Play That Stopped Social Media
It happened in the first quarter against the Detroit Lions. Mahomes rolled right, defenders closed in, and then, out of nowhere, he flicked the ball behind his back to Travis Kelce.
The completion went for eight yards and a first down.
Fans lost their minds. Jason Kelce, watching from home, couldn’t believe his eyes. The clip spread across every platform within minutes.
But that throw was never supposed to happen.
Mahomes Throws Kelce Under the Bus
During a halftime interview with NFL Network, Mahomes spilled the truth. And he didn’t hold back.
He admitted that Kelce ran the wrong route entirely. The tight end was supposed to run a flat route, but he went somewhere else. So Mahomes, frustrated in the moment, decided to make a statement.
The two-time MVP essentially said he threw that behind-the-back pass out of spite. He was mad at his tight end for messing up, so he punished him with the most difficult throw possible.
And somehow, it worked.
Kelce Fires Back With a Voice Joke
When reporters asked Kelce for his side, he didn’t apologize right away. Instead, he roasted his quarterback.
The tight end blamed the whole thing on Mahomes’ voice. He joked that his quarterback mumbled the play call in the huddle. With a grin, Kelce even imitated Mahomes’ distinctive voice, the one fans often compare to Kermit the Frog.
According to Kelce, he was walking to the line of scrimmage still trying to figure out what play had been called. Before he could sort it out, Mahomes snapped the ball.
So Kelce improvised. He saw Mahomes scrambling toward the sideline and tried to help him out. Next thing he knew, the ball was flying at him from behind his quarterback’s back.
He caught it. First down.
The Full Confession on New Heights
A few weeks later, Kelce gave his complete account on the New Heights podcast he hosts with his brother Jason.
This time, he took full responsibility.
Kelce explained that preseason games are tricky. Teams don’t spend a full week preparing like they do for regular season matchups. Instead, coaches pull from hundreds of plays installed during training camp. Players don’t always have every detail memorized.
On that specific play, Kelce admitted he wasn’t locked into the game plan. He could tell Mahomes noticed something was off when he motioned across the formation.
He flat-out said he screwed up. He didn’t look at Coach Reid. He wasn’t sure where to go.
But then he praised Mahomes for turning his mistake into magic. Kelce called the ability to throw behind your back in traffic “insane.” He said it takes serious confidence to pull that off when a play breaks down.
His final thought? Sometimes greatness happens because somebody messes up first.
Why This Play Matters Beyond the Highlight
Sure, the behind-the-back pass looks incredible on replay. But there’s a bigger lesson hiding inside this story.
This is what elite teams do. When something goes wrong, they don’t collapse. They adjust. Mahomes and Kelce have played together since 2017. They’ve won three Super Bowls. They know each other’s tendencies better than most married couples.
That connection allowed Mahomes to trust that Kelce would find the right spot, even on a broken play. And it allowed Kelce to react instantly when he saw something unexpected coming his way.
Coach Andy Reid wasn’t upset about the throw either. He mentioned that Mahomes practices that pass almost every day. The team runs specific plays designed to give Mahomes chances to use it.
Reid even joked that basketball players throw behind-the-back passes multiple times per game. In his mind, it’s not that crazy.
The Chemistry That Makes It Work
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have built something special in Kansas City. Since Mahomes became the starter in 2018, Kelce has piled up over 7,400 receiving yards and more than 50 touchdowns.
They communicate without words. They read each other’s body language mid-play. When the pocket collapses, Kelce knows where to go, and Mahomes knows where to look.
This play showed exactly why that matters. A miscommunication that would sink most quarterback-receiver duos turned into a viral moment for these two.
Even when one of them makes a mistake, the other finds a way to make it work.
The Reaction From Jason Kelce
Jason Kelce had perhaps the best response of anyone watching that night.
The retired Eagles center couldn’t contain his excitement. He posted on social media immediately, calling his brother’s quarterback “Magic Mahomes.”
He also issued a challenge. Now that Mahomes had completed the behind-the-back pass in a preseason game, Jason wanted to see more. He said he had a fever, and the only prescription was more trick plays.
Knowing how close these brothers are, Jason probably never let Travis forget that he ran the wrong route in the first place.
What We Learned From the Whole Situation
This story gives fans a peek behind the curtain of professional football. Even the best players in the world make mistakes. Even three-time Super Bowl champions miss assignments and run wrong routes.
The difference is how they handle it.
Mahomes could have thrown the ball away. He could have taken a sack. Instead, he trusted his skills and his teammate.
Kelce could have made excuses forever. He could have kept blaming his quarterback’s voice. Instead, he owned his mistake publicly and gave credit where it belonged.
That’s the kind of accountability that builds championship teams.
The Aftermath and Ongoing Partnership
The 2024 season has brought new challenges for both players. The Chiefs have faced tough losses, and both Mahomes and Kelce have had difficult games.
But through it all, their partnership remains the foundation of Kansas City’s offense. They’ve weathered criticism before. They’ll weather it again.
And somewhere in the back of Mahomes’ mind, he knows he can always reach into his bag of tricks when things go sideways.
Because when you play with someone long enough, even the mistakes turn into highlights.
FAQs
Why did Patrick Mahomes throw a behind-the-back pass to Travis Kelce?
Mahomes threw the behind-the-back pass because Kelce ran the wrong route during a preseason game against the Lions. Mahomes was frustrated and decided to make an unconventional throw out of spite. Surprisingly, Kelce caught it for an eight-yard gain and a first down.
Did Travis Kelce admit to running the wrong route?
Yes. Kelce initially joked that the miscommunication happened because Mahomes mumbled the play call. However, on his New Heights podcast, Kelce fully admitted that he screwed up and wasn’t properly prepared for the play. He took responsibility for the broken assignment.
How did Andy Reid react to the behind-the-back pass?
Coach Andy Reid wasn’t bothered by the throw at all. He revealed that Mahomes practices the behind-the-back pass almost every day and that the team has plays specifically designed to give him opportunities to use it. Reid even compared it to basketball players who throw similar passes regularly.
Has Mahomes ever thrown a behind-the-back pass in a regular season game?
As of the 2024 preseason, the behind-the-back pass to Kelce was the first time Mahomes completed this throw in any official NFL game. He had practiced it for years and previously hit a crossbar with the throw during a 2022 practice session.
What did Jason Kelce say about the behind-the-back pass?
Jason Kelce was stunned and excited by the play. He immediately posted on social media, calling his brother’s quarterback “Magic Mahomes.” Jason also challenged Mahomes to pull off the trick play again, saying fans needed to see more.
How long have Mahomes and Kelce played together?
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have been teammates since 2017, though Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018. During that time, they’ve won three Super Bowls together and built one of the most successful quarterback-tight end partnerships in NFL history.
