Jags’ Andre Cisco is a hated man in Chiefs Kingdom

It has nearly been a week since the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Jacksonville Jaguars. But Jaguars safety Andre Cisco is still despised amongst Chiefs fans.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars had a respectable history entering last week’s matchup on Sunday. The Chiefs led the all-time series 8-6 and had won the previous five matchups. Usually, they are entertaining wins for Chiefs fans, especially since Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took the offensive helm. But both teams go their separate ways, with little bad blood or animosity from players or fans. All it took was two hits from Jacksonville safety Andre Cisco to change that.

Cisco, in his second professional season, has been a steady player for the Jaguars. He has started all ten of the team’s 2022 games, primarily at free safety. He is not an otherworldly talent but could have a lengthy career in the NFL. He was hardly a blip on the radar of Chiefs fans, before a play late in the first half of the Nov. 13 game.

It’s still painful to watch that hit on Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. Football is a violent sport, but the game has made strides to protect players as much as possible. Hundreds of former NFL players have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE on its own is not deadly but has effects on a player’s behavior and personality after the game. With one hit, Cisco may have changed the remainder of Smith-Schuster’s life.

Chiefs fans decried the lack of a penalty against Cisco, not so much the hit itself. While the game stood still, Cisco looked regretful on the sidelines. There is still a human element to the game, and not every hard hit is a dirty one. Where fans’ outlook on Cisco changed was on another play, against Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

That one changed everything. No longer was Cisco a player with an errant violent play, but a player seeking one. He didn’t launch his body to break up the pass but led with the crown of his helmet targeting MVS’ helmet. Those words must be in some official NFL rulebook, right? The final straw was Cisco celebrating that hit on MVS. Sure, he forced an incomplete pass, but not for skill or being better. Rather, he looked for another opportunity to injure a Chiefs player.

Chiefs fans overwhelmingly feel that Cisco should be fined after Sunday’s actions. A poll from SB Nation found that 93% of Chiefs fans support fining Cisco for his two hits, despite no penalties against him in the game. If you can’t tell, I am part of that 93%. Een Chiefs players and coaches expressed their thoughts on Cisco.

“We were mad,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. “I’ve had a lot of big hits and not once have I made helmet-to-helmet contact like that.” Even Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said he thought Cisco targeted Smith-Schuster and that hits like that don’t “need to be in the game.”

The fans’ reaction on social media was strong, calling Cisco some choice words. They were rightfully frustrated and will likely remain frustrated until they have their pound of flesh against Cisco. Cincinnati Bengals fans had a less respectful response to Smith-Schuster’s injury, saying that he deserved it and it was payback for some vicious hits by Smith-Schuster. Not that any player deserves to be knocked unconscious, but keep their reaction in mind for the Chiefs and Bengals game on Dec. 4. Just saying.