In the world of sports, post-game celebrations can often be memorable, but Houston Texans linebacker E.J. Speed took things to a unique level after his team’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The win was particularly significant for Speed, as the Colts are his former team, making it a clear ‘revenge game’ scenario.
A Controversial Social Media Post
Following the Texans’ 20-16 win, Speed took to social media, but instead of a typical victory post, he shared a photo of rapper YNW Melly. This move quickly garnered attention and confusion among fans and sports commentators alike. Melly is currently embroiled in a high-profile legal battle, facing retrial for alleged murder charges.
Speed didn’t add any caption to the image of Melly, leaving the interpretation open. However, he did attach audio to his Instagram Story featuring the ending of the second verse of YNW Melly’s song, ‘Murder On My Mind.’ The lyrics played were particularly chilling: ‘His body dropped down to the floor and he got teardrops in his eyes / He grabbed me by my hands and said he was afraid to die / I told him, “It’s too late, my friend, it’s time to say goodbye” / And he died inside my arms, blood all on my shirt.’
Context and Confusion
Speed, who spent his first six seasons with the Colts and had a standout year in 2024 with 142 tackles, was let go in free agency before signing a one-year, $5 million contract with the Texans. His decision to reference YNW Melly, particularly with the audio clip, has been interpreted by some as a unique way to express his feelings about defeating his former team, possibly alluding to a sense of finality or ‘killing’ his past with the Colts.
However, the reference has also been met with confusion, as many sports fans are unfamiliar with YNW Melly’s legal situation or the context of the song. Meanwhile, YNW Melly himself is still awaiting his retrial, which has a tentative start date of January 2027. He recently received approval to bring on a new legal team.
What do you make of E.J. Speed’s choice to reference YNW Melly after beating his former team? Do you think it was a fitting celebration or a confusing choice? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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