Travis Kelce’s behavior during the AFC Championship Game has resulted in a fine from the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end was hit with an $11,255 penalty for taunting Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin following a crucial touchdown play. The fine comes as Kelce and the Chiefs prepare for their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Now, many fans are curious to know more about what happened on the field. Here’s why Kelce is getting fined by the NFL.
Why was Travis Kelce fined $11,255?
Travis Kelce has been fined $11,255 by the NFL for taunting Buffalo Bills players during the AFC Championship Game. The incident took place after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scored a touchdown but was tackled at the goal line by Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Kelce wasted no time confronting Hamlin, drawing the league’s attention and a financial penalty.
The fight didn’t end there, as Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips also got involved. Phillips headbutted Kelce, earning a $6,722 fine for unnecessary roughness. The situation quickly escalated, which played out on national television. CBS analyst Tony Romo even suggested Kelce exaggerated the impact of the hit, calling it a “flop,” as per the New York Post. Despite the incident, Kelce remained calm as he and his Chiefs teammates celebrated their 32-29 win, which secured their spot in a third consecutive Super Bowl.
Despite the controversy, Kelce remains unfazed and addressed the criticism on the New Heights podcast with his brother Jason Kelce. He mentioned during a recent episode that he sees the negative attention as something that unites the team even more, helping them build stronger bonds as they head into the Super Bowl.“I’m enjoying doing this work with the guys we have in there because it makes us even more of a family. You just circle the wagons.”
