Kris Boyd offers surprising explanation for shoving Texans special teams coordinator

Houston Texans cornerback Kris Boyd drew a lot of attention after he appeared to shove special teams coach Frank Ross following the opening kick in Saturday’s Divisonal Round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. According to Boyd, however, it wasn’t what it looked like.

Speaking to reporters after the game, the Texans defensive back claimed that he believed he had forced a turnover and was simply excited. Boyd had knocked the ball out of the hands of return man Nikko Remigio, but didn’t realize that the Chiefs had recovered it.

In his excitement about making a big play, he took his helmet off and ran over to the sideline, where he shoved Ross. Boyd received a 15-yard penalty that set Kansas City up at the Texans’ 13-yard line to start the game.

Despite how it looked to those watching, however, Boyd assured fans that his actions were not out of anger or frustration, but simply a misunderstanding.

“I was just too excited,” he said. “Did something that I shouldn’t have done. I shouldn’t have done it. Keep my helmet on. …I was turnt. First play, they thought they broke it and had a big play and I got the ball out. As I’m getting up and I look at the screen, I see ‘number white’ and they all pointing that way. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, we got the ball!’ I was just turnt. You’ll see. I was running over to everybody getting ready to shake their hand, but then someone grabbed me and was like, ‘Nah, that’s not good. We got a flag and it’s their ball.'”

Continuing, Boyd explained that he still was unaware that the Texans had not recovered the ball when he shoved Ross. The two were quickly able to clear up the situation and Boyd was allowed to return to the game.

“I had talked to him and apologized because he said that and I was like, ‘What you mean? I got a turnover.’ Then he was like, ‘Nah, that’s not why I was coming to talk to you.’ He was just telling me, ‘You can’t do things like that. Just keep your composure. That was six seconds at the beginning of the game. We’ve got a whole other ball game to play.’

“…That’s not in my character (to shove a coach out of anger). I love everybody here. I love my coaches. I would never disrespect nobody. I love Frank. I’m a God-fearing man. I respect everybody in that building.”

Unfortunately, the play from Boyd at the beginning of the game still resulting in the Chiefs kicking a field goal to start things off. Kansas City would go on to win by a score of 23-14 as the Texans were eliminated.

Still, it’s good to know that the situation between Boyd and Ross wasn’t what it appeared to be. The cornerback just wrapped up his second season with the team and has been a valuable member of the special teams unit.

Boyd is a free agent after this season, so the Texans will have a decision to make this offseason on whether they want to re-sign him or not. He ends the year with eight total tackles and a fumble recovery.