Travis Kelce recalls painful lesson he learned from James Harrison

The Pittsburgh Steelers are tied with the New England Patriots with the most Super Bowl championships. The organization has won six Lombardi Trophies and developed a strong identity. They play great defense, run the football, and attack vertically in the passing game. That identity has produced just seven losing seasons since they selected Terry Bradshaw with the first overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft. 

The Steelers defense is also known as one of the most intimidating units in the NFL. Pittsburgh is at its best when a villain plays a starring role. "Mean" Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Greg Lloyd and Joey Porter Sr. are just a few of the names that have filled that role for the Steelers over the last few decades. 

On Wednesday, Saquon Barkley, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, joined the "New Heights" podcast with Jason Kelce and his brother, Travis Kelce, from the Kansas City Chiefs. The trio were discussing their welcome to the NFL moment when Travis revealed that his moment came at the hands of one of the most iconic Steelers villains, former Defensive Player Of The Year and Super Bowl XLIII hero, James Harrison.  

"I talked smack to the wrong guy," Travis remembered. "James Harrison man. You know me, am I out here fighting? (Kelce smiled) Sometimes across from whoever, anybody can get it. Call me the can-man. Anybody can get it. I ended up getting his wrath."

Harrison, who held the Steelers' career sack record until TJ Watt passed him in 2023, was one of the most physically vicious players in franchise history. He fought his way into the NFL and was cut multiple times before eventually being named a starter by Mike Tomlin in 2007. Harrison went on a five-year rampage through the NFL, earning three First Team All-Pro selections and making five straight Pro Bowls.

He also was no stranger to the NFL offices in New York during that period. During his NFL career, Harrison racked up $225,000 in fines. In 2020, Harrison alleged that Tomlin had handed him an envelope to help pay his fine after knocking out Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, an accusation that both Tomlin and Art Rooney II vehemently denied. 

"He played that outside backer position where sometimes he'd be over number two in the slot," Travis said. "We are playing in Pittsburgh. I talked a little bit of ish to him. He's standing, staring at me with the black visor. I can't really see if he is looking at me, but I know he is looking at me. He doesn't say anything."

Young players often do inexplicable things on the football field. Sometimes, they make a key mistake that costs their team a game or put themselves in a compromising position by mouthing off to the wrong veteran. The younger Kelce brother had managed to do both and learned that messing with Harrison was not a good idea. 

"A couple of quarters go by," Travis concludes. "I'm looking at the ball because it is silent cadence. [Harrison] timed it up perfect, wha-pow! Just absolutely smoked me off the line of scrimmage. Screwed up the whole play. I'm going to Alex [Smith], like I don't know what you want me to do there. I'm looking at the ball. He's looking at my blindside. Never talked ish to him again."

Harrison was a fierce competitor who would not have jeopardized the outcome of a game to exact vengeance on an opponent who incurred his wrath. He would, however, wait for an opportunity to exact a little payback during the natural course of a play. The All-Pro Chiefs tight end learned this lesson all too well at then-Heinz Field. 

Omar Khan signed Patrick Queen to the largest free-agent contract in Steelers history. He also added DeShon Elliott, who used his introductory press conference to remind Pittsburgh's 2024 opponents to be prepared for things to get physical when they step on the field with the black and gold. 

Both players have a reputation as unapologetically brutal defenders, an element that recent Steelers units have lacked. The 2024 NFL is a very different league, and it will be interesting to see how much the Steelers' defense tests the league's boundaries and patience this season.