In 2023, Boyd hit free agency for the first time, originally signing with the Arizona Cardinals, where he played for one season, before landing in Houston where he played two seasons with the Texans. Over the offseason, Boyd signed with his fourth team, the New York Jets.

But in the wee hours of Sunday morning, the 29-year-old from Gilmer, TX found himself fighting for much more than an NFL roster spot. According to the New York Post, Kris Boyd was shot on West 38th St, near Seventh Ave. in Midtown, NYC around 2 a.m..

Kris Boyd in critical condition after shooting

New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd was shot and critically wounded in Midtown early Sunday morning and is now clinging to life at Bellevue Hospital, police and sources said. The shooting took place on West 38th Street near Seventh Avenue shortly after 2 a.m., according to police, who did not identify Boyd as the victim.

Boyd was shot in the abdomen outside Sei Less restaurant after a dispute turned violent, with the gunmen firing two shots, law enforcement sources told The Post. Boyd lapsed in and out of consciousness before he was rushed to the hospital, where he is listed in critical but stable condition.

New York Post

Related: Vikings Receiver Wants Fanboy Refs Out of Football

Being out late invites bad things to happen, and Boyd learned that the hard way Saturday night/Sunday morning. The 2-8 Jets do not play this weekend, after losing to the New England Patriots on Thursday Night. They head to Baltimore next weekend.

The fact that Boyd is reportedly in stable condition, after early reports indicated even worse, is a positive development. But getting shot in the stomach brings all kinds of additional concerns.

In August, the former Minnesota Vikings DB was placed on injured reserve, after suffering a shoulder injury during practice, which he has yet to recover from. Last season he played 17 games for the Texans and logged 77% of the possible special teams snaps.

The Minnesota Vikings’ season came to a close on Monday night with a defeat to the Rams. Although they’re no longer in the running for the NFL playoffs, they have connections to several teams still in the game. With the NFL capturing the attention of viewers nationwide, fans are keeping their eyes glued to the action.

You probably didn’t expect one of those players with Vikings ties to make such a quick impact. It was a pretty hilarious one though.

Kris Boyd has the same Minnesota Vikings problems

On the opening kickoff during the first AFC divisional matchup the Kansas City Chiefs nearly took it to the house. While a tackle was made, and a fumble nearly created a turnover, special teamer Kris Boyd was the focal point.

Related: Adam Schefter Weighs in What a Kevin O’Connell Extension Might Cost the Vikings

The Texans' Kris Boyd shoves special teams coordinator Frank Ross.

Yikes. #NFL pic.twitter.com/pZNQfLEkFr

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 18, 2025

Samaje Perine recovered the fumble for the Chiefs. Boyd then lost his mind and threw his helmet, which gave Kansas City another 15 yards of field position. As he came to the sideline, he then shoved special teams coordinator Frank Ross nearly into next week. This would all be a bit more shocking if it wasn’t exactly what Vikings fans came to expect from Boyd. If you remember this offseason, when Mike Zimmer went scorched earth, he threw Boyd under the bus as well.

“Kris Boyd? He says something about me? I’m like, ‘Dude, you had more special teams penalties than anyone I can remember.’ “

Mike Zimmer (Star Tribune)

This is Boyd’s sixth season in the NFL and his second with Houston. You have to believe, win or lose, this could be his last game with them after that stunt.

With the Vikings, Boyd played 51% of the defensive snaps during 2020. No one was in the stands so they couldn’t see how rough that production was, but he has been exclusively a special teams player since.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Love Boat Captain Hired by Barstool Sports

Emotions run high in the postseason, and the Texans are certainly trying to pull the upset. Still, a boneheaded decision made worse by shoving a coach, is never going to be a good look.

Zimmer called out multiple former associates, during his sit down with Mark Craig (Star Tribune), over the weekend. He fired shots at his former GM Rick Spielman, CB Kris Boyd, QB Kirk Cousins, QB draft pick Kellen Mond and maybe even the Wilfs.

Former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Kris Boyd forgives Mike Zimmer

So far, two of Zim’s targets have responded, in their own way. On Saturday, Boyd posted a story to his instagram account that read, “Damn Zim!!?? Out of everybody on the team, I loved you!! Still do, and it won’t change!! You believed in me, and I’m nothing but grateful for it!”

Former #Vikings ace Kris Boyd responds to Mike Zimmer’s comments: pic.twitter.com/vbcM9yZIdu

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 1, 2024

In case you missed it, or don’t remember, Zim singled Boyd out during the interview, as one of the players who talked shit about him, after he was fired by the Wilfs. Craig quoted Zimmer mocking the number of special teams penalties Boyd committed, while he was coaching: ‘Dude, you had more special teams penalties than anyone I can remember’.

Former Vikings QB Kellen Mond not as forgiving

The other public response to Zimmer’s interview came Sunday, from Kellen Mond. He had to read his former head coach admitting to the Star Tribune that he had no interest in drafting him. Zim even revealed how he walked out of the Minnesota Vikings war room the moment Rick Spielman handed in the pick, and didn’t return for the rest of the draft.

Kellen has spoken about the relationship he never had with Mike Zimmer before, but this time he went as far as to say that the two NEVER spoke to each other ONE TIME, in the 8 months he played under him. It’s almost too crazy to be possible, but after reading that interview, I believe it.

Speaking with former #Vikings QB Kellen Mond, he had this to say in response to Mike Zimmer:

“I don’t even know what our relationship was. Never spoke to him one time. The only coach I’ve ever had where his players and peers have 0 respect for him.” pic.twitter.com/S3nscQgtIB

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 1, 2024

“I don’t even know what our relationship was. Never spoke to him one time. The only coach I’ve ever had where his players and peers have 0 respect for him.”

Kellen Mond in response to Mike Zimmer’s interview (via @VikingzFanPage)

It’s too bad Zim continues to shoot himself in the foot. Because he can’t take any responsibility for how things ended with the Minnesota Vikings, he’s losing friendships and killing other important relationships in life.

Related: Local Insider Can See Vikings Drafting Another Top QB in 2025

Hopefully, time heals these wounds too, because Mike Zi

Like when Washington Commanders QB, Taylor Heinicke, got his Kirko Chainz on after a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. Some found it funny. Others, like Vikings cornerback Kris Boyd, found it “lames”. Said Boyd: “[Heinicke] couldn’t hold Kirk [Cousins’] jockstrap.”

Stop trynna fucking be us…Lames…He couldn’t hold Kirk jockstrap!! Find your own trend!…Y’all shit don’t even look like y’all having fun enjoying it.. https://t.co/ubGcoSrRtb

— kris boyd™ (@kris23db) November 15, 2022

Teammates Fully Bought in on Kirko Chainz

This social media outburst from Minnesota Vikings cornerback, Kris Boyd, is yet another example of just how much this team is rallying around their quarterback, Kirk Cousins. They believe in him and support him in a way he has never seen during his career.

Not only did Cousins struggle to get into Mike Zimmer’s good graces, during their four seasons together, but Jay Gruden and Kirk Cousins butted heads in Washington during his past football life.

Obviously, Kirk should get plenty of credit for the new type of leadership role he’s taken on this season. But new head coach, Kevin O’Connell, deserves just as much. It’s difficult to lead a team if your coach doesn’t value that leadership. That’s why KOC came in and made it immediately clear that this is Kirk Cousins’ team. Thus, everyone else has followed.

New and Improved Kirk Cousins

This new supports system has empowered Cousins in a way that has him playing with more guile and confidence than ever before. I mean, have you seen some of the highlights in Buffalo? Kirko Chainz is unpredictable. He might tuck and run, maybe he’ll float around the pocket before delivering a strike down the field under pressure.

Hell, this new version of Kirk might even throw a no-look, cross-field dime to Cris Carter Justin Jefferson falling out of bounds.

Some of the best throws of Kirk's career against the best defense in the NFL: pic.twitter.com/HvPkFDISjm

— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) November 14, 2022

Talk about numbers all you want. This version of Kirk Cousins delivers the only numbers that matter. Wins.

Kris Boyd is already receiving some heat on Twitter for his comments on Heinicke but I’m on his side. Taylor Heinicke can’t hold Kirko’s chainz or his jockstrap and copying an airplane celebration isn’t going to make them a good football team.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan