Travis Kelce fined for taunting Bills on Patrick Mahomes touchdown after not being penalized during game
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was fined $11,255 for taunting during Sunday’s AFC championship game victory over the Buffalo Bills. The league announced the fine on Saturday, following a taunt that occurred after a touchdown run by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the final two minutes of the second quarter. Kelce approached Bills safeties Damar Hamlin and Cole Bishop, aggressively nodding his head as he said something. Despite multiple referees being near Kelce at the time of the taunt, none of them threw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct that would have cost the Chiefs 15 yards after the play.
However, the referees did throw a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips after he headbutted Kelce in response to the taunt. Phillips was also fined $6,722 for his actions. The Chiefs ultimately won the game, 32-29, but many fans expressed outrage over multiple calls that benefited Kansas City during the game.
One controversial call involved Bills quarterback Josh Allen being ruled short of a first down on a critical 4th-and-short play in the fourth quarter. CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore believed Allen had gotten the first down, sparking backlash from NFL fans on social media. Another contentious call came in the second quarter when officials ruled a catch by Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy despite video replay showing the ball had touched the ground.
The referees came under similar scrutiny during the Chiefs’ divisional round playoff win against the Houston Texans the week before, when two roughing the passer penalties were called against the Texans for hits on Mahomes. The calls led to criticism from Texans players and head coach DeMeco Ryans, as well as ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman who called for the league to address the issue in the offseason.
When asked about the preferential treatment rumors, Mahomes denied feeling that way, emphasizing that the referees do their best to call the game fairly. He highlighted the unpredictable nature of each play and reiterated that the team’s focus is on playing hard and winning. Kelce also avoided addressing the officiating controversy during an episode of the “New Heights” podcast with his brother Jason Kelce, jokingly pleading the Fifth Amendment.
The AFC championship game and subsequent controversies have stirred debate among fans and players alike, highlighting the challenges of officiating in the NFL. As the league looks towards the future, addressing concerns about consistency and fairness in officiating will be crucial to maintaining the integrity of the game.
