Texans cornerback Kris Boyd had a heated moment after the opening kickoff in their playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. Boyd was involved in a play where Chiefs returner Nikko Remigio broke through the Texans’ coverage, heading toward the end zone.
Boyd caught up to him, knocked the ball loose, and ran toward the Texans’ sideline, celebrating by removing his helmet and tossing it toward the bench.
However, the problem was that the Chiefs had recovered the fumble.
Boyd explained, “I got the ball out. And as I’m getting up, I look at the screen, I see nothing but white (Houston’s colors) and they’re all pointing that way.” Boyd thought the Texans had recovered the ball and was excited, thinking it was a turnover. But then someone on the Texans told him that there was a penalty flag, and the Chiefs still had possession of the ball.
In his frustration, Boyd shoved special teams coach Frank Ross on the sideline and was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for removing his helmet.
Boyd admitted, “I was just too excited, did something that I shouldn’t have done. Learning from it. Keep my helmet on.”
He also said that pushing a coach was “not in my character” and that he never meant to disrespect anyone. “I love Frank,” he added. “I’m a God-fearing man. I respect everybody in that building.”
Boyd took responsibility for his actions and apologized to everyone, including Ross. He said Ross told him, “Hey, listen, don’t worry about that. We had a whole ballgame to play,” but Boyd acknowledged he had let his emotions get the best of him. “I’m not that type of person,” he said.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans did not see Boyd shove Ross, but he commented on Boyd’s actions. “What I saw is we can’t come out on the first play and throw our helmet,” Ryans said. “That’s not what we teach. That’s not what we’re about at all.”
