The NFL fined Travis Kelce $11,255 for taunting Bills players during the Chiefs AFC Championship win, a week before facing the Eagles in Super Bowl 2025.
A flag was not thrown on the play in question, and the fine is of little consequence to Buffalo, who already had questions about the officiating during the game.
“Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was not penalized for starting a fracas in the end zone in the first half of the AFC Championship Game. The NFL has fined Kelce, though,” said Charean Williams of NBC Sports.
“Kelce will lose $11,255 for taunting.”
Are league officials simply trying to save face as the narrative heading into Super Bowl LIX is that the refs have favored the Chiefs repeatedly during the playoffs?
It sure seems that way.
Travis Kelce Slapped With The Fine
The Chiefs, of course, wound up winning the AFC Championship game 32-29 at Arrowhead Stadium. But it was not without a significant amount of controversy.
Perhaps one of the most egregious missed calls was a play in the fourth quarter, with the Bills leading 22-21. They faced a fourth-and-1 at the Kansas City 41-yard line. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen moved the ball across the first down line by the tip, but the refs ruled he didn’t make it.
Replays showed he almost certainly did.
Travis Kelce’s fine, though, came from a legitimate touchdown run by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
During the touchdown run, Kelce was blocking Damar Hamlin. After the score, Kelce engaged in jawing with Hamlin. This led to Bills’ Jordan Phillips hitting Kelce, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Phillips rather than a taunting penalty on Kelce.
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Don’t Forget The Flop
Making matters far worse was the fact that Travis Kelce engaged in performance art to draw the attention of the refs by flopping. It was such a sad display that commentator Tony Romo called him out on the spot.
After taunting the opposing team, Kelce turned and practically walked into Phillips. He then waved his hands back abruptly to make it seem as if he had been hammered.
It was embarrassing. And Romo called him out.
Kelce came over and said 'what's up with that?' pic.twitter.com/KzgAtZrKmv
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 27, 2025
“Kelce knows how to get under your skin,” Romo remarked, watching the replay. “And Phillips comes in … [Kelce] tries for the flop.”
Phillips was penalized 15 yards and also later fined $6,722 for unnecessary roughness (illegal use of the helmet).
Even when they try to course correct, the refs are still throwing a little bone to the Chiefs.
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