The Kansas City Chiefs are going through one of their biggest crises of recent times. Sunday’s 20–17 loss to the Eagles left the Chiefs 0–2 for the first time since 2014. Fans are not happy, and head coach Andy Reid and TE Travis Kelce seem to be at the center of their collective frustration.

The turning point came late in the fourth quarter when Patrick Mahomes made a perfect throw to tight end Travis Kelce at second and goal, only to have the ball slip off his hands and go straight to Eagles defender Andrew Mukuba, who took it down 41 yards before being tackled by rookie Josh Simmons. The Eagles scored on the following drive, taking a 10-point lead.

The offense of the Chiefs flashed brilliance at times, including when Mahomes rushed for 60 yards in the first half and scored on a 13-yard rushing touchdown, but the team could not capitalize on it. Missed field goals and a lack of depth uncovered the vulnerability of a roster built around one of the league’s best quarterbacks. In fact, it was apparently the lack of protection for Mahomes that had Kelce fuming in front of the cameras.

“I’m sick of this sh–,” the veteran TE appeared to direct the outburst at some of his teammates and coach Andy Reid, following Mahomes’ 13-yard touchdown. Two plays before that, the QB was sacked for ten yards. And while the loss did not count, thanks to two holding penalties, the following play also saw Mahomes desperately scramble for six yards after not being able to find a pass on a designed play.

Kansas City’s offense problems are nothing new, but the timing is particularly bitter given the ambitions of the team. These problems left fans in agitation and doubting the abilities of one of the NFL’s best coaching minds.

Travis Kelce & Andy Reid face backlash

The Chiefs’ bad luck has brought a rapid and public call to action by the fans. There were condemnations aplenty on Twitter directed at head coach Andy Reid and star tight end Travis Kelce. “Fire Andy Reid. Travis Kelce retire. Get an ACTUAL running back. GET A REAL DEFENSIVE LINE. BETTER FREAKING PLAYS,” one fan wrote. One of the strangest playcalls came during the Chiefs’ first possession in the third quarter at fourth and 1, when Mahomes handed running back Kareem Hunt the ball from the Chiefs’ own 36-yard line, but Philadelphia linebacker Nolan Smith made short work of Noah Gray and Creed Humphrey for a 1-yard loss.

That play ended up giving the Eagles a good field position, which ultimately led to three points that seem quite costly in hindsight. Another netizen said, “You’re critical of everybody but the main guys, so I would like one of the big voices for the Chiefs to hold Travis Kelce and Andy Reid accountable.”

Fans used the past superiority of the franchise to demonstrate the slump: “Remember when Mahomes was the ‘s—’? And Kelce was relevant? NOT ANYMORE. Typical Andy Reid end of story.” Others just demanded change: “ANDY REID SHOULD BE FIRED. KELCE NEEDS TO RETIRE. NAGY NEEDS TO DOORDASH.” 

There was one that summarized the anger briefly: “Even though the Eagles’ tush push is unstoppable, that’s not the reason the Chiefs lost. The Chiefs lost because their coaches lost and Travis Kelce lost. Andy Reid going for it on fourth was a bad move. And I don’t know why they did an onside kick. Gave Philly a short field.” Following the game, while Andy Reid defended his aggressive approach, he did concede that he could have done things a little differently. “I probably could dial up some different things there, but I think against them you’ve got to do that. Obviously, I thought the plays we called were available, but it didn’t get done the way I wanted it,” he said.

Of course, calls for Travis Kelce’s retirement are nothing new, but fans’ frustration is a reflection of a broader problem with where the franchise is going. As Kansas City prepares for the future, it must not only improve on the field but also restore its fans’ faith in its leadership.