Requested by: @USMCRules
Travis knew that today would be a tough day, but even he wasn't prepared for how difficult it would be. The Kansas City heat was relentless, beating down on the players with an unforgiving intensity that made every step feel like wading through molasses. Practice had only just begun, but Travis was already feeling the weight of the day pressing down on him.
Usually, Travis was the life of practice. He was the guy who made everyone laugh, who pulled off ridiculous stunts just to keep the mood light, and who always found a way to make even the most grueling drills enjoyable. But today, he was a shadow of himself. He moved through the drills mechanically, his usual spark missing. He barely spoke to anyone, and when he did, his voice was subdued, almost distant.
Patrick noticed it first. Travis wasn't just off; he was a million miles away. During a water break, Pat couldn't hold back any longer. He approached Coach Reid, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
"Coach," Pat said, trying to keep his voice casual but unable to hide the concern lacing his words. "Something's up with Trav. He's... he's not himself today."
Andy Reid had noticed it too. It was impossible not to. He watched Travis as he stood on the sidelines, staring off into the distance, his shoulders slumped. It wasn't like Travis to be so out of it, especially during practice.
Andy sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "Yeah, I've seen it," he said, his tone serious. "I've been trying to figure out what's going on, but he's not talking."
Pat hesitated for a moment before he spoke again. "Maybe we should call Taylor. She might know what's up."
Andy gave Pat a sharp look. "I was thinking the same thing. But let's give him one more chance to talk. If he doesn't, we'll call her."
They both knew that threatening to call Taylor, Travis's wife, was a surefire way to get Travis to spill the beans. He loved her to death, but he wasn't about to have her worrying about him on top of everything else she had going on.
As the break ended, Andy approached Travis, his expression firm. "Kelce, what's going on with you today? You're not yourself, and if you don't start talking, I'm calling Taylor."
Travis looked at Andy, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to say something. But then, he just shook his head, his eyes downcast. "I'm fine, Coach. Just... tired."
Andy wasn't buying it, and neither was Pat. They exchanged a glance, and without another word, Andy pulled out his phone and dialed Taylor's number.
It didn't take long for her to pick up. "Hey, Andy," Taylor's voice was bright, but there was a hint of concern underneath. "What's going on?"
"Hey, Taylor," Andy said, keeping his voice calm. "I'm sorry to bother you, but we're having a bit of an issue here. Travis isn't himself today, and he's not talking. We're worried, and we thought maybe you'd know what's going on."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Taylor sighed softly. "He didn't tell you, did he?"
Andy's brow furrowed. "Tell us what?"
Taylor hesitated for a moment, then said, "I just gave birth to our second daughter a few days ago. Travis is... he's overwhelmed. We're both trying to figure out how to handle a three-year-old toddler and a newborn, and I think it's just hitting him hard."
Andy's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Taylor, I had no idea. Congratulations, first of all. But I wish he would've told us. We would've understood."
"I know," Taylor replied, her voice soft. "He's trying to be strong, but I think he's struggling more than he wants to admit. He's not used to feeling like he can't handle something."
Andy nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Alright, thanks for letting me know, Taylor. We'll take care of him here. And don't you worry about anything—just focus on yourself and the baby."
"Thanks, Andy," Taylor said, a hint of relief in her voice. "And tell him I love him, okay? He doesn't have to do this alone."
"I will," Andy promised before hanging up.
He turned to Pat, who had been listening to the conversation. "She just gave birth to their second daughter," Andy explained. "Travis is overwhelmed trying to juggle the toddler and the newborn."
Pat nodded, understanding immediately. "No wonder he's out of it."
They both walked over to Travis, who was still standing on the sidelines, lost in thought. Andy clapped a hand on his shoulder, snapping him out of his daze.
"Hey," Andy said, his tone gentler now. "Why didn't you tell us, Trav? We would've understood."
Travis looked at him, his eyes full of a mix of exhaustion and guilt. "I didn't want to bring my personal stuff here, Coach. I didn't want to be a distraction."
"You're not a distraction," Pat said firmly. "You're our teammate, and we're here for you, man. You don't have to carry this by yourself."
Travis's shoulders sagged with relief as he let out a long breath. "It's just... a lot. I'm trying to figure out how to be a good dad to both girls, and it's harder than I thought it'd be. And Taylor—she's amazing, but she needs me, too. I don't know how to balance it all."
Andy gave Travis's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You're doing the best you can, and that's all anyone can ask of you. If you need to take a break, take it. We'll cover for you."
Pat nodded in agreement. "We've got your back, Trav. Don't worry about practice today. Go home, be with your family. We'll handle things here."
Travis looked at them both, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it."
Andy smiled, giving him a light push toward the locker room. "Go on, get out of here. And tell Taylor we're all thinking of her."
Travis didn't need to be told twice. He nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, and headed off the field, feeling lighter than he had all day. As he made his way to the locker room, he couldn't help but think about how lucky he was to have a team that had his back, both on and off the field.
And as for Andy and Pat, they couldn't help but feel a little proud. They knew they'd done the right thing by getting to the bottom of what was going on with Travis. Sometimes, being a team meant more than just playing football. It meant being there for each other when life got tough, and today, they'd done just that.
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