Kris Boyd reveals racist backlash for sideline outburst, coach shove

Kris Boyd was in the news for all the wrong reasons after Saturday’s Divisional Round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, as the Houston Texans cornerback drew backlash after he appeared to shove special teams coach Frank Ross following the opening kickoff.

Afterwards, Boyd maintained that it wasn’t what it looked like, claiming that he believed he had forced a turnover and was simply excited while speaking to reporters after the game. The explanation had some merit, as the Texans defensive back 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.’”

Despite Boyd’s explanation, he’s received immense hate via social media, as he’s shared some of the racist direct messages he’s gotten in the time following. According to Boyd via TMZ Sports, he’s been the victim of racial slurs and disparagement, insisting messages have piled in “every second” since the Texans’ season came to a close.

Regardless of the hate, Boyd has remained apologetic, believing the moment didn’t have much of an effect on the rest of the game in Kansas City.

“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,” Boyd added.

At least Kris Boyd can be at peace with the situation, but it’s more than unfortunate he’s receiving hate online for a mistake. He’s 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.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this article.