Texans’ Kris Boyd apologizes for helmet toss, shoving Frank Ross: ‘I was too excited, something I shouldn’t have done’

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a bizarre sequence that frustrated his coaches and created a lot of confusion about his actions, Texans reserve cornerback Kris Boyd delivered a two-handed shove to the chest of special teams coordinator Frank Ross.

Boyd pushed Ross as he headed toward the sideline after taking off his helmet and throwing it across the ground at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Inside the Texans’ locker room after the 23-14 AFC divisional round loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, Boyd emphasized that the entire episode was a big misunderstanding.

After Chiefs kick returner Nikko Remigio fumbled the football on a tackle from Boyd, the cornerback said he thought the Texans got possession. Instead, the Chiefs recovered the loose football and Boyd was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct to set up a field goal during the opening drive of the game.

As Boyd headed toward the sideline toward an irate Ross, he shoved the coach. It was out of boisterous enthusiasm, Boyd emphasized, not because of any ill will at all toward the popular, enthusiastic assistant 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.”

Boyd said he was happy that he forced the fumble and that was why he threw the helmet, which is highly illegal and potentially dangerous.

“I was turnt,” Boyd said. “That first play, kickoff, they thought they had a big play and I got the ball out and, as I’m getting up, I look at the screen and I see nothing but white (jerseys) and they’re all pointing (Texans’ way). So, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, we got the ball, too. Turnover.’ I was just turnt. You can see I ran up to everybody getting ready to shake their hands, but then someone grabbed me like, ‘Nah, it’s not good. They got a flag and it’s their ball.”

Boyd has a reputation as an emotional player ever since his high school days at Gilmer and at the University of Texas.

Ross is known for his feisty nature, too.

Ultimately, Boyd said he had zero bad intentions toward Ross.

“I had talked to him and apologized,” Boyd said. “I was like, ‘I got a turnover,’ and he said, ‘Nah, that’s not why I was coming to talk to you.’ He was telling me you can’t do things like that, keep your composure. Let’s lock in, let’s play smart.”

What’s the lesson learned?

“Play smart,” Boyd said.

As for his exchange with Ross, Boyd got upset when it was suggested that he had gotten into it with Ross.

“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.”

Boyd said he was able to refocus and he remained in the game.

Boyd sounded surprised and a bit chagrined that it was thought he was out of line.

“That’s football, that’s one 10-second thing,” Boyd said. “I would never disrespect anybody in here. Y’all see me every day in the locker room, do I do that?’ So, don’t ask me questions and try to … I’m not that type of guy. Y’all can’t do that. I love everybody. Like I said, I was lit, I was turnt, I thought we had a good play. I apologize to everybody, I apologize to Frank. He said, ‘Don’t worry about that.’ I was just trying to get my point across. Y’all know that. You see me every day.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, while he said he didn’t have knowledge of Boyd pushing Ross, was not happy with the antics from Boyd.

“We can’t come out on the first play and throw our helmet,” Ryans said. “We understand that’s silly. That’s not what we teach, that’s not what we’re about at all,” the Texans coach said. “For us to be here in this moment and to throw our helmet? We know the rules and we know we can’t do that. It just puts us in a negative light to start the game. We give them a big return, we take our helmet off to add 15 more yards to the play, it’s just not smart football.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com