The Divisional Round of the playoffs got off to a fiery start last Saturday when Texans cornerback Kris Boyd was caught shoving an assistant coach right after the opening kickoff.
Hyped up after forcing a fumble and soon realizing the ball had been recovered by the Chiefs, Boyd executed what looked to be a less-than-friendly shove on special teams coach Frank Ross, one that sent social media into a tailspin.
If you’re the Texans you gotta cut Kris Boyd right away @stoolpresidente pic.twitter.com/Dpy2YPy6cT
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 18, 2025
Ross’ immediate reaction and facial expression suggested he was caught off guard (and maybe even a little annoyed) after the altercation. But talking to reporters on Monday, it sounds as though Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans saw things differently.
“I don’t think he was pushing Frank in a disrespectful manner,” Ryans said. “I think it was more so he was fired up, overly fired up and thought he made a play to help us. So that narrative that he’s pushing a coach — that’s incorrect.”
After running down Chiefs kick returner Nikko Remigio, Boyd stripped the ball free and originally assumed the Texans had recovered.
Like most players, he sprinted to the sideline to celebrate but was caught up in the emotion of the game, at least according to his head coach.
“He came over with the excitement, overly excited that he made a play, but we can’t lose our minds in that sense of taking our helmet off,” Ryans said. “We still have to remain poised, right. We cannot take a helmet off in a game, everyone knows and understands the rules.”
Boyd told Pro Football Talk after the game that the excitement of the moment got the best of him and that he loves every one of his coaches.