Houston Texans Player Kris Boyd Apologizes After Shoving Special Teams Coach: ‘That’s Not in My Character’

Mar. 15, 2025

Kris Boyd.Photo:Brooke Sutton/Getty

Brooke Sutton/Getty

NFL player Kris Boyd has apologized for shoving one of his coaches.TheHouston Texanscornerback, 28, pushed special teams coordinator Frank Ross, 37, in a heated moment during the divisional round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, Jan. 18.“I was just too excited. I did something I shouldn’t have done,” Boyd saidwhile speaking to reportersafter his team’s 23-14 loss. “That’s not in my character. I love everybody here. I love all my coaches. I would never disrespect nobody. … I love Frank. … I respect everybody in that building.”Boyd, who is in his second season with the Texans, also shared that he hadsince apologizedto Ross in person and that the “lesson learned” is that he needs to “play smart.”Houston Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross.Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via GettyThe incident occurred when Boyd was flagged for a penalty for unsportsmanlike behavior after throwing his helmet at the beginning of the game. The penalty resulted in an early advantage for the Chiefs.Boyd shared that Ross ultimately used the incident as a teaching moment for his player.“He [Ross] 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 have a whole other ball game to play. Let’s lock in, hone in on our details and play smart,’ " he said.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!“What I saw is we can’t come out on the first play and throw our helmet. That is silly,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after the game, perThe New York Times. “That’s not what we teach. That’s not what we are about at all.”“For us to be here at this moment — to throw our helmet — we know the rules. We know we can’t do that and it just puts the team in a negative light to start the game. We give up a big return and we take our helmet off to add 15 more yards to the play. That’s just not smart football,” Ryans added.Kris Boyd in December 2024.Cooper Neill/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Fans were divided on whether Boyd should receive further disciplinary action for his behavior during the game.“If you’re the Texans you gotta cut Kris Boyd right away,” Barstool Sports, a sports-centered media company, posted onX.“CB Kris Boyd gets into it with special teams coach Frank Ross. Seems like a big deal, but it’s not,” countered Fox Sports commentator Jordan Schultz in anX post. “This is the playoffs! Emotions run high and dudes are passionate!”

NFL player Kris Boyd has apologized for shoving one of his coaches.

TheHouston Texanscornerback, 28, pushed special teams coordinator Frank Ross, 37, in a heated moment during the divisional round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, Jan. 18.

“I was just too excited. I did something I shouldn’t have done,” Boyd saidwhile speaking to reportersafter his team’s 23-14 loss. “That’s not in my character. I love everybody here. I love all my coaches. I would never disrespect nobody. … I love Frank. … I respect everybody in that building.”

Boyd, who is in his second season with the Texans, also shared that he hadsince apologizedto Ross in person and that the “lesson learned” is that he needs to “play smart.”

Houston Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross.Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty

Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty

The incident occurred when Boyd was flagged for a penalty for unsportsmanlike behavior after throwing his helmet at the beginning of the game. The penalty resulted in an early advantage for the Chiefs.

Boyd shared that Ross ultimately used the incident as a teaching moment for his player.

“He [Ross] 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 have a whole other ball game to play. Let’s lock in, hone in on our details and play smart,’ " he said.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“What I saw is we can’t come out on the first play and throw our helmet. That is silly,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after the game, perThe New York Times. “That’s not what we teach. That’s not what we are about at all.”

“For us to be here at this moment — to throw our helmet — we know the rules. We know we can’t do that and it just puts the team in a negative light to start the game. We give up a big return and we take our helmet off to add 15 more yards to the play. That’s just not smart football,” Ryans added.

Kris Boyd in December 2024.Cooper Neill/Getty

Cooper Neill/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Fans were divided on whether Boyd should receive further disciplinary action for his behavior during the game.

“If you’re the Texans you gotta cut Kris Boyd right away,” Barstool Sports, a sports-centered media company, posted onX.

“CB Kris Boyd gets into it with special teams coach Frank Ross. Seems like a big deal, but it’s not,” countered Fox Sports commentator Jordan Schultz in anX post. “This is the playoffs! Emotions run high and dudes are passionate!”

source: people.com