While Henry To’oTo’o and Will Anderson Jr. avoided the fines from the NFL, Houston Texans cornerback Kris Boyd did not.
The league fined Boyd $8,056 for unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing his helmet across the field after forcing a fumble before exuberantly shoving special teams coordinator Frank Ross.
The NFL fined #Texans CB Kris Boyd $8,056 for unsportsmanlike conduct — throwing his helmet after the opening kickoff, leading to a sideline confrontation with special teams coordinator Frank Ross in last week’s playoff loss at Kansas City.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 25, 2025
On the opening play of Saturday’s 23-14 loss at Arrowhead Stadium, Boyd forced a fumble after a 63-yard return from Nikko Remigio. As the ball bounced on the ground, the veteran cornerback tossed his helmet, thinking that Houston had recovered.
Instead, the Chiefs picked up 15 yards on the penalty. As he headed toward the sideline toward Ross, Boyd shoved the coach.
“I was just too excited,” Boyd said. “I did something I shouldn’t have done. I shouldn’t have done it, keep my helmet on.”
When asked about shoving Ross, Boyd said it was out of love and not anger.
“That’s not in my character,” Boyd said. “I love everybody here. I love my coaches. I would never disrespect anybody. I love Frank. I’m a God-fearing man. I respect everybody in that building.”
#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said he doesn’t believe Kris Boyd was ‘disrespecting’ Frank Ross with a push said that narrative isn’t right he was just fired up, reiterated that Boyd hurt team with throwing helmet @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/oLoAUIQtmc
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 20, 2025
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans offered a similar response to the situation when asked about the perceived altercation online.
“I don’t think he was pushing Frank in a disrespectful manner. I think it was more, so he was fired-up, overly fired-up and thought he made a play to help us,” Ryans said. “So, that narrative that he’s pushing a coach, that is incorrect.”
The second-year coach was still upset that the action cost Houston 15 yards, even if the defense forced Kansas City to settle for a field goal.
“We can’t lose our minds in that sense of taking our helmet off, we still have to remain poised. You cannot take your helmet off in a game,” Ryans said. Everyone knows and understand the rules. So instead of helping us, it ended up hurting us.”