Kadarius Toney: Viral IG Video Wasn’t Attack on Chiefs, Was Upset with Giants Fans

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVFebruary 6, 2024

Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney turned heads when he released a profanity-laced video on Instagram Live ahead of the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens, but he told reporters on Monday it was misinterpreted.

He said he wasn’t actually injured in the viral video, which was notable since the Chiefs ruled him out for the game with a hip injury.

Yet he clarified during Monday’s Super Bowl Opening Night that he was actually attacking fans of his former team, the New York Giants, and not his current team:

“I never attacked the Chiefs, never said anything about the Chiefs. Who I was referring to was the Giants fans and the people in my comments, my comment box, not even on my live recording, so you wouldn’t even know they were there. But I was referring to them, which I shouldn’t have. I just wanted to go out there. I just wanted to get my message across as far as my injury, but I shouldn’t have did that at the end of the day. I’m a man and I can accept my mistakes just like I accept my wins. I’m just moving past that right now. We’re trying to go out and trying to win [the Super Bowl].”

The Giants selected Toney with a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft and traded him to the Chiefs during the 2022 season.

While he said his comments were directed toward fans of his former team, the Instagram Live video forced Chiefs head coach Andy Reid to address the situation and clarify that Kansas City wasn’t filing erroneous injury reports.

Reid told reporters, “He’s been on the injury report, [so] that part is not made up by any means.”

Such comments were notable after the Atlanta Falcons were fined $75,000 and former head coach Arthur Smith was fined $25,000 for failing to disclose Bijan Robinson’s illness ahead of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this season.

Toney hasn’t played since Week 15 against the New England Patriots and turned in a disappointing season for Kansas City with 27 catches for a career-low 169 yards and one touchdown.

He deflected a pass to a defender for an interception in that game against the Patriots, which is also something he did in a Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions. It was returned for a touchdown by the Lions, and the Chiefs ended up losing by one point.

Those were not the only high-profile mistakes by Toney this season, as he also lined up in the neutral zone ahead of what could have been an incredible game-winning touchdown for the Chiefs in a Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

B/R Gridiron @brgridironThe greatest play that’ll never count 🤯

(via @NFL) https://t.co/zncd0Kouln

Travis Kelce caught a pass in the final two minutes and threw a lateral to Toney, who ran it the rest of the way for a touchdown. Yet the penalty nullified the play, and the Chiefs ended up losing by three.

It remains to be seen whether Toney will play in Sunday’s Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, but the team has done nothing but win in these playoffs without him.