Chiefs’ Travis Kelce Fined $11,000 for Big AFC Championship Penalty

Kansas City star tight end Travis Kelce has been hit with a hefty $11,255 fine by the NFL for his on-field behavior during the AFC Championship victory that swept the Chiefs into the Super Bowl.

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The incident that prompted the fine came after a second-quarter touchdown run by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, which gave the Chiefs a 21-10 lead.

Following the score, Kelce approached Bills safeties Damar Hamlin and Cole Bishop, aggressively nodding his head and exchanging words with them.

While multiple referees were nearby, no flag was thrown for unsportsmanlike conduct at the time. However, the situation escalated when Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips headbutted Kelce in response, resulting in a 15-yard penalty and a $6,722 fine for Phillips.

This wasn’t the only contentious moment of the game. A controversial 4th-and-short call in the fourth quarter, where Bills quarterback Josh Allen was ruled to have been stopped just short of a first down, sparked outrage from fans and analysts alike.

Additionally, in the second quarter, officials ruled that Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy made a catch, even though replays clearly showed the ball had touched the ground.

The officiating drew heavy scrutiny, a familiar theme for the Chiefs this postseason, following the divisional round win over the Houston Texans, where two questionable roughing the passer penalties were called against the Texans for hits on Mahomes.

Kelce didn’t comment on the officiating when asked by his brother Jason Kelce during an episode of their “New Heights” podcast. Instead, Travis joked that he’d “plead the Fifth,” referencing his constitutional right to remain silent.

While Kelce’s actions sparked controversy, his impact on the field was limited. He finished the game with just two catches for 19 yards, his lowest performance in any playoff game.

Still, the Chiefs clinched their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance, thanks to a clutch 35-yard field goal by Harrison Butker and some key defensive stops late in the game.

This fine wasn’t the first for Kelce in 2024. Earlier in the season, he was hit with a $14,069 penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after breaking Tony Gonzalez’s franchise record for receiving touchdowns, following a goalpost dunk celebration.

As for the taunting fine, the NFL’s policy dictates that the first offense results in a $11,255 penalty, but a subsequent violation would escalate to $16,883.

As the Chiefs prepare to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVIII, Kelce will look to continue his stellar career and lead the team to an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat.

Despite his fines, he remains a key part of the Chiefs’ offensive attack, finishing the regular season with 97 receptions, 823 yards, and three touchdowns, even if his numbers didn’t reflect his usual dominant postseason performances.

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