NFL Hits Chiefs Star Travis Kelce with Significant Fine Following Playoff Victory Over Bills
Travis Kelce Fined by NFL After AFC Championship Victory
The Kansas City Chiefs are heading back to the Super Bowl, but star tight end Travis Kelce won’t be leaving the AFC Championship Game without a financial penalty. The NFL has fined Kelce for an unsportsmanlike conduct violation that took place during the Chiefs‘ 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills.
Each week, the NFL reviews game footage and issues fines for conduct deemed inappropriate. This time, Kelce was among the players penalized. The league determined that he engaged in taunting during the second quarter after a heated exchange with Bills safeties Damar Hamlin and Cole Bishop following a Patrick Mahomes touchdown run. As a result, Kelce was fined $11,255.
Kelce’s Second Fine of the Season
This isn’t the first time Kelce has been fined this season. Back in Week 17, he was penalized $14,069 for using a prop in a celebration paying tribute to Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez. That moment came when Kelce broke Gonzalez’s franchise record for the most touchdown receptions by a tight end.
No Suspension for the Super Bowl
Despite the fine, Kelce remains eligible to play in the Super Bowl, where the Chiefs will face the Philadelphia Eagles. The NFL’s disciplinary actions are purely financial in this case and do not impact a player’s eligibility.
Bills Players Also Fined
Kelce wasn’t the only one hit with a fine after the AFC title game. Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips was fined $6,722 for a helmet-to-helmet hit, while linebacker Matt Milano received an $11,255 fine for a similar infraction.
Kelce’s passion and intensity have been a defining part of his game, but the latest fine serves as another reminder that the NFL is keeping a close eye on player conduct—especially under the bright lights of the postseason.
