Travis Kelce sparked headlines after a moment from a recent game quickly went viral. The Kansas City Chiefs star drew attention when cameras caught him making a gesture that has since circulated widely online. The league responded with a fine totaling nearly $15,000, adding to the fallout surrounding the incident.
Here’s what we know about the gesture, the penalty, and how the situation unfolded on and off the field.
Travis Kelce receives fine after obscene gesture on field
The NFL fined Travis Kelce $14,491 for unsportsmanlike conduct during the Kansas City Chiefs’ September 14 game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium. Kelce made a 23-yard reception, ran down the sideline, and motioned toward his groin in celebration. Video of the gesture spread quickly across social media, and league officials later confirmed the violation.
NBC Sports reported that the fine came from the NFL’s standard review process for conduct and taunting violations. Officials on the field did not penalize Kelce, but the league office ruled the action an “obscene gesture.” Players may appeal such fines through the established process. Kelce has not publicly said if he plans to challenge the penalty.
The same game brought disciplinary action for Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. The league fined him $46,371 for “impermissible use of the helmet/launching.” Barkley appeared to lower his helmet before colliding with Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner, which violated safety rules on helmet-to-helmet contact.
The Chiefs lost the game 20-17, marking their second straight defeat after an earlier loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Kelce, 35, discussed the Chargers’ loss on the September 10 episode of his New Heights podcast. He co-hosts the show with his brother, Jason Kelce. He said, “I know it’s kinda sounding like a broken record from last year’s Super Bowl, but that’s on us as leaders. I’ll take the most accountability myself. I wasn’t ready for that first drive.”
League officials have emphasized increased attention to taunting and post-play conduct this season. The fine against Kelce is consistent with those efforts to reinforce sportsmanship standards across the NFL.
