Travis Kelce Fined for Taunting in AFC Championship as Chiefs Eye Historic Super Bowl Three-Peat

 

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce is paying the price for his on-field antics during last Sunday’s AFC Championship game, as the league has handed him a $11,255 fine for taunting Buffalo Bills players. According to a report on Sunday in The New York Post, Kelce’s heated exchange with Bills safety Damar Hamlin took place following a critical touchdown by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, which ultimately helped secure Kansas City’s 32-29 victory and a third straight Super Bowl appearance.

The taunting incident occurred late in the first half when Mahomes crossed the goal line before being brought to the ground by Damar Hamlin. Kelce, 35, then got in Hamlin’s face, an action that the league later deemed unsportsmanlike, leading to the hefty fine. The New York Post reported that Kelce’s penalty was just one of several infractions from the heated contest, which saw multiple players engaged in on-field skirmishes.

Kelce wasn’t the only player to be disciplined for his role in the AFC Championship altercation. The New York Post report noted that Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips was also fined $6,722 for an unnecessary roughness penalty, after headbutting Kelce during the aftermath of the touchdown.

Phillips’ helmet-to-helmet collision with Kelce caused the Chiefs tight end to stumble backward with his hands raised, a moment that led CBS analyst Tony Romo to accuse him of flopping.

“Kelce knows how to get under your skin,” Romo commented during the live broadcast. “And Phillips comes in, [Kelce] tries for the flop.”

Despite the controversy, The New York Post reported that Kelce and the Chiefs kept their composure to punch their ticket to Super Bowl 2025, where they will face the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans on Sunday, February 11.

Far from being deterred by criticism, Kelce appears to be relishing his role as one of the NFL’s biggest personalities. Speaking on his “New Heights” podcast with older brother Jason Kelce, the Chiefs’ tight end expressed his enjoyment of the new “villain era” surrounding Kansas City’s dominance.

“I love it. At one point in time, it wasn’t (like) that,” Kelce said on the podcast, as per The New York Post.

“I was the, ‘Do you feel bad for them guys.’ I’m enjoying doing this work with the guys we have in there because it makes us even more of a family. You just circle the wagons. When people are saying whatever they want, you’re just banded together, and it just makes you appreciate more what you have because people want what you have.”

Kelce and the Chiefs are now one win away from making history as the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls, a feat that has never been achieved in the modern era of the NFL. The New York Post report highlighted that while critics argue Kansas City has benefited from controversial calls this postseason, the team remains laser-focused on cementing its dynasty status.

Amidst the on-field drama, Kelce had another reason to celebrate after the Chiefs’ AFC Championship win—his girlfriend Taylor Swift was there to support him from the stands. According to The New York Post report, Swift, 35, watched the game from a luxury suite alongside her family and Kelce’s relatives.

Following the final whistle, Kelce and Swift shared an emotional embrace, a moment captured in a video released by NFL Films. In the footage, Swift can be heard exclaiming: “Oh my God, this is so insane. Look at this. This is not a real-life situation.”

The New York Post report reminds readers that this is not the first time the couple has had such a memorable post-game moment. Last year, following the Chiefs’ dramatic Super Bowl 2024 victory over the 49ers, Swift and Kelce shared a similar celebratory embrace on the field.

The NFL power couple, who have been dating since 2023, continue to dominate headlines both on and off the field, with Swift frequently seen supporting Kelce throughout the 2024-25 season.

With the AFC Championship behind them, the Kansas City Chiefs now turn their attention to their next challenge: the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 2025. The New York Post report emphasized that Andy Reid’s squad is on the verge of an unprecedented dynasty, with a chance to claim their fourth Super Bowl title in just five years.

While Kelce may have incurred a five-figure fine for his taunting incident, it’s clear that he and the Chiefs are not fazed by outside criticism. As they prepare to take the field in New Orleans, all eyes will be on Kelce, Mahomes, and the reigning champions as they attempt to make NFL history.