Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce recently found himself in the spotlight for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following a touchdown celebration that caught the NFL's attention. The incident took place during the Chiefs' Christmas Day matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers when Kelce caught a 12-yard pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, resulting in a touchdown.
However, instead of opting for a typical celebration, Kelce chose to dunk the football over the goalpost, a move that quickly became a talking point.
Uncovering the details of Kelce's expensive touchdown
The celebration was more than just a personal expression; Kelce was honoring a former Chiefs legend and tight end, Tony Gonzalez. This moment was particularly significant as Kelce’s touchdown marked a milestone: surpassing Gonzalez for the most receiving touchdowns in the franchise’s history. Despite the emotional tribute, the celebration violated NFL regulations on unsportsmanlike conduct, specifically the use of a prop. As a result, Kelce was fined $14,069 for the infraction.
Interestingly, this fine came after Gonzalez had promised that if Travis Kelce performed the dunk to honor him, he would cover any potential fines. Following through on his promise, Gonzalez reportedly intends to pay the fine on Kelce’s behalf, further cementing the bond between the two tight ends.
It’s worth noting that dunking the football over the goalpost used to be legal when Gonzalez played in the NFL, but the league instituted a rule change in 2014, banning such celebrations. While this may have been a misstep for Kelce in terms of league rules, it was clearly a meaningful tribute to the Chiefs' iconic tight end, whose records Kelce has now surpassed.
This isn’t Kelce's first fine for a celebration. In 2020, during a game against the New York Jets, he also faced penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. However, Kelce, who has already secured his place in NFL history, has yet to publicly comment on the fine. It’s unlikely that he will react in any significant way, as his record-breaking achievement remains a major milestone in his career, overshadowing the controversy surrounding his touchdown celebration.
He is now se to feature in the Chiefs game against the Denver Broncos scheduled for tomorrow.