Breaking News: Vikings CB Loses Cool, Shoves Texans Coach in Wild Sideline
The Minnesota Vikings’ season officially came to a close on Monday night after a loss to the Rams. Although the Vikings are no longer competing in the NFL playoffs, several former players are still linked to teams that are in the hunt for the championship. With the NFL playoffs dominating television screens across the country, many fans remain glued to the action, closely watching the players and teams still involved in the postseason.
However, one former Vikings player made his presence felt in a particularly unexpected and comical way. Kris Boyd, who has a connection to Minnesota, was involved in a bizarre incident during the first AFC divisional game between the Kansas City Chiefs and another team. On the opening kickoff of the game, the Chiefs nearly scored a touchdown, but a tackle was made just in time, and a fumble nearly led to a turnover. Boyd, a special teams player, was central to the play as the ball was recovered by Samaje Perine for the Chiefs.
In the aftermath, Boyd’s frustration boiled over as he threw his helmet in anger, resulting in a penalty that gave the Chiefs an additional 15 yards of field position. As Boyd made his way to the sideline, his frustration escalated further when he shoved special teams coordinator Frank Ross with surprising force. The incident was jarring, though perhaps not entirely shocking to those familiar with Boyd’s history. During the offseason, former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer publicly criticized Boyd, calling him out for his history of special teams penalties. Zimmer had noted that Boyd had accumulated more penalties than he could remember, further highlighting the frustration Boyd had caused.
Boyd, now in his sixth NFL season and second year with the Houston Texans, may have just played his final game with the team after this outburst. His tenure with the Vikings saw him on the field for 51% of the defensive snaps in 2020, but his performance was often criticized. Since joining the Texans, Boyd has mostly been relegated to special teams duties. While emotions are high during the postseason, Boyd’s impulsive actions, which included shoving a coach, certainly tarnished his reputation. Despite any potential desire to pull off an upset, his outburst on the sideline is unlikely to be viewed favorably by his teammates, coaches, or fans.