It seems the growing tensions between the Chiefs and Bengals aren't just limited to the NFL season.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on Friday clapped back at Ja'Marr Chase's recent "Pat who?" comment about Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Kelce told Chase that he needs to be ready to "back it up." The Bengals receiver offered the quip on June 13 after Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow called Mahomes the best QB in the NFL.
Chase understandably had his own quarterback as the top signal-caller in the league, which wasn't an issue until Chase offered the tongue-in-cheek comment about Mahomes, the 2022 NFL MVP and Super Bowl 57 MVP.
MORE: Joe Burrow: Patrick Mahomes is NFL's best quarterback
"It is what it is, dog. Who doesn't love some good locker room banter, man?" Kelce said on his "New Heights" podcast. "Shoutout to Ja'Marr Chase for holding it down for his QB, but don't you ever disrespect Pat Mahomes, now. If you want to talk your s—, talk your s—, pimp. Just better back it up."
Eagles center Jason Kelce, speaking with brother Travis on their podcast, said he thought Chase's comments were "a little disrespectful."
"I thought it was a little bold," Jason Kelce said. "(Mahomes) is a two-time league MVP, two-time Super Bowl MVP. To say 'Pat who?' is, like, I don't know."
MORE: Travis Kelce reveals what he wanted to say at White House podium
Mahomes didn't take Chase's comments lying down, either. On June 15, he tweeted a photo of himself modeling his two Super Bowl rings with the caption, "That's who."
That’s Who 💍💍 pic.twitter.com/pIs95yWMTS
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) June 16, 2023
This isn't the first time Travis Kelce has rushed to defend his quarterback. He took the mic following Kansas City's 23-20 win over Cincinnati in the AFC championship game last January and quickly took aim at the Bengals' pregame "Burrowhead" comments, which were a nod to Burrow winning the AFC title game at Arrowhead Stadium the previous season.
"Burrowhead, my a—," Kelce said. "This is Mahomes' house."
Kansas City and Cincinnati will face off on New Year's Eve 2023 in Arrowhead. If the Bengals and Chiefs — Kelce in particular — keep up the smack talk till then, it will be the most hyped regular-season meeting of the season on vitriol alone.