Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire opens up about friendship with Travis Kelce: ‘Look at him as a big brother’

Kansas City #Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire opens up about friendship with Travis Kelce: ‘Look at him as a big brother’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire has opened up recently about his ongoing battle with PTSD. During his appearance on the ‘The Pivot‘ podcast, he addressed his progress and revealed a teammate who has helped him through issues.

“Travis (Kelce) is real heartfelt, probably not the most religious person, but he’s going to speak whatever he feels at the time. The amount of time that I was spending with Travis, bro, was unreal. I really look at him as a big brother, and I needed somebody to lean on.” said Edwards-Helaire. “My first year in the league was the COVID year, which literally kept us isolated from each other. But the only person that’ll do those things reach out and make sure I’m good, text me on random days was Travis, like, bro, you good? Like he was the only one. He’ll notice when I’m kind of jacked up in the morning in meetings and all this other stuff, real, aware of his surroundings.”

Over the years, Travis Kelce has been praised by many teammates for his generous nature behind the scenes. Edwards-Helaire revealed his continued effort to help him through the progress.

“I felt comfortable with him. I could talk to him,” said Edwards-Helaire. “He’ll tell me whatever he is, not necessarily swinging my mind one way or another, but it was somebody I could vent to, and it didn’t get any better than that, bro, like, we wouldn’t necessarily get to the details of everything, he knew the story. Everybody knew that’s just what it is. But the way Travis and I would talk was more heartfelt than anything.”

Edwards-Helaire has been involved in two Super Bowl championships with the Chiefs and says he views Kelce as a best friend on the team.

“I’ve been in with the Chiefs five years, and probably, been my best friend since I walked in the door; he called me GBC, ‘Good Brother Clyde.’ Got nicknames and everything, and that was another thing, like bro, out of all things, that’s his nickname for me, Clyde, make sure everybody good. It doesn’t matter the situation. Don’t worry about it. Call ‘Good Brother Clyde,’ he’ll get you right.” said Edwards-Helaire. “That kind of resonated with me, not only him knowing and seeing that Clyde was going to make sure everybody was good, but to his aspect of being a team leader and being that dude that kind of everybody looks up to; it was different when he was looking out for me. I think that’s what made our friendship and brotherhood just unbreakable.”

This is a positive peak behind the scenes of the Chiefs’ relationship dynamics, as they have grown more profound than just teammates. Their strong bond has led to much success on the football field in recent years.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid discusses the elevation of Clyde Edwards-Helaire from NFI list

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid discusses the elevation of Clyde Edwards-Helaire from NFI list | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs could have another offensive weapon returning to the lineup very soon as the team prepares the roster ahead of Week 5’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Thursday, explaining the elevation of running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who started the season on the NFI list because of his ongoing battle with PTSD.

“Clyde (Edwards-Helaire), you saw was elevated. He’s got a 21-day window,” said Reid. “We’ll just get him back into the swing of things here and see how he does and how he goes forward here the next couple of days.”

The NFL’s non-football injury list is a roster designation for players injured outside of NFL activities. Players can be placed on the NFI list for injuries sustained during personal workouts, accidents, or from pre-existing conditions. The 21-day window will be utilized to get Edwards-Helaire back up to speed and fit into a role on the offense.

“Yeah, so we’ll practice them today with the scout team, give them some reps there, and let him just kind of get back in the swing of things,” said Reid. “He’s in good shape. He’s been working out, so just get him back in the football part.”

Edwards-Helaire will join a crowded backfield featuring rookie Carson Steele and veterans Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine. Isiah Pacheco continues to recover from injury and may not be available until the end of the season.

Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire reveals ongoing battle with PTSD

Kansas City #Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire revealed his ongoing battle with PTSD during a press conference on Thursday. | @EdEastonJr

A recent post by Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire on X revealed the former first-round pick’s ongoing issues with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.

During Thursday’s post-practice press conference, the veteran running back opened up about his condition and explained his recent absences from practices by describing a traumatic scenario he experienced in December of 2018 that still affects him today.

“My first couple of years, [I would] just try to block everything out, and it’s like, ‘Oh, at some point, I’m going to get over it’, and you start to realize that that just doesn’t happen,” said Edwards-Helaire. “You get older, and you realize, ‘Hey, no matter the age, no matter the person, no matter the situation, everyone needs help at some point.’

“It takes courage to talk about it, and having PTSD and dealing with it once people bring it up is not something that I’d always want to talk about. I never really know how my body will react or my mind, it is just something that I can’t pinpoint or know exactly what’s going to happen.”

Edwards-Helaire would go on to tell reporters about some of the symptoms of the disorder that were affecting him, which sometimes necessitated his hospitalization.

“Sometimes I’m admitted into the hospital, [for] something like I can’t stop throwing up,” Edwards-Helaire told the media.

The former LSU standout thanked the Chiefs’ medical, health, and wellness staff members for their support. He also named a few teammates who have helped him cope with his condition and shown understanding during his darkest moments.

“It is one of those things where early on guys who kind of pay attention like Travis [Kelce] and Kadarius [Toney], at times they can even [tell], they’ll know ahead of time like, ‘Ok, Clyde’s not laughing, he’s not giggling, he’s not himself.'”

With Kelce, Toney, and the rest of the Chiefs’ organization at his side, Edwards-Helaire is uniquely positioned to continue shedding light on the struggles of people with PTSD and other mental health issues.