Shaquille O’Neal has a bone to pick with the Chiefs.
The Super Bowl champion team faced criticism from an NBA legend on Wednesday during his appearance on Jason and Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast. He questioned the Chiefs’ strategy concerning their key tight end during the significant 44-20 defeat to the Eagles in February’s championship game.
“I have to ask, why didn’t they utilize you much in the Super Bowl?” Shaq inquired of Travis. “I’m sure you’re frustrated. I don’t want to cause any issues.”
Responding to the comment, Kelce, who registered just four catches for 39 yards in the 2025 Super Bowl loss, said, “Nah, man, as you know, we aimed to utilize every aspect, man.”
O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion, suggested the Chiefs should have looked to the pieces that helped win them their recent titles, three of which came with Kelce, 35, on the roster.
“I need the pieces that helped us win the first f–king Super Bowl, don’t be trying to do the new s–t,” he said. “I don’t wanna get you in trouble, but I wasn’t happy about that.”
Kelce quipped the Eagles’ defense was “doing a pretty good job of bracketing me and s–t like that,” but O’Neal wasn’t having it.
“I’ll tell you what, you don’t have to talk, but I’m gonna talk for you. Coach: he’s f–king 6-foot-8. Throw him the goddamn ball. Single coverage, double coverage, at the goal line. Alley-oop, coach, that’s the play you call,” he said.
Kelce, who actually stands at 6-5, has been putting in the work this offseason as he looks to move on from a lackluster 12th year, in which he posted a career-low of 823 receiving yards.
The 10-time Pro Bowler — who put retirement rumors to bed in February — has been training away in Florida and dropped a reported 25 pounds.
The offseason hasn’t been all work and no play, however, as the three-time Super Bowl champ has been enjoying downtime with girlfriend Taylor Swift.
The 35-year-old pop superstar, who bought back her masters last week in a music stunner, was referenced on Wednesday’s episode by O’Neal, a noted Swiftie.
“Your brother, [Jason Kelce], did something nobody else in the world could do. He walked me right over,” O’Neal said of his Super Bowl 2024 interaction with Swift. “I got to shake her hand.”
Swift celebrated Kelce’s Super Bowl triumph over the 49ers in February 2024 with a kiss on the field at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
They’ve been dating since 2023.
