Chiefs’ Travis Kelce Fined for a Penalty the Referees Missed During Bills Game [WATCH]

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has been fined $11,255 for taunting during the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills, the NFL announced Saturday.

The incident occurred in the second quarter of the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory over Buffalo.

The taunt took place after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scored a rushing touchdown in the final two minutes of the first half.

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Kelce approached Bills safeties Damar Hamlin and Cole Bishop, aggressively nodding his head while speaking to them.

Despite multiple referees being nearby, no penalty was assessed against Kelce for unsportsmanlike conduct, which would have resulted in a 15-yard penalty on the extra point attempt or the ensuing kickoff.

However, Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips retaliated by headbutting Kelce, drawing a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty. Phillips was later fined $6,722 for his actions.

Kansas City’s win over Buffalo sparked frustration from NFL fans due to multiple officiating decisions that appeared to favor the Chiefs.

In the fourth quarter, officials ruled that Bills quarterback Josh Allen was stopped short of a first down on a crucial 4th-and-short play.

CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore stated during the broadcast that he believed Allen had gained enough yardage for the first down.

“I felt like he gained it.” – @GeneSteratore pic.twitter.com/Tfcj2CEzpz

— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) January 27, 2025

Earlier in the game, Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy was ruled to have completed a catch, despite video replay showing the ball making contact with the ground. The decision led to further scrutiny of the officiating.

Even though this ball hit the ground and neither player had complete possession the refs rule that this was a catch by Xavier Worthy. pic.twitter.com/VuCbWzA6tH

— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) January 27, 2025

This is not the first time officiating has come under fire in a Chiefs playoff game this season.

During Kansas City’s divisional round victory over the Houston Texans, two roughing the passer penalties against Texans defenders for hits on Mahomes stirred controversy.

The first occurred in the first quarter when Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was flagged after appearing to push Mahomes in the chest following an incomplete pass to Kelce on third down.

The second call came in the third quarter when Mahomes attempted a scramble. With blockers in front and defenders closing in, Mahomes slid late, drawing another roughing the passer penalty.

ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman criticized the call during the broadcast, stating that it was something the league needed to address in the offseason.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and several Houston players expressed their frustration with the officiating after the game.

When asked by reporters on Wednesday if he believed referees were giving him favorable treatment, Mahomes dismissed the notion.

“I don’t feel that way,” Mahomes said.

“At the end of the day, the referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and as proper as they possibly can. And all you can do is go out there and play the game that you love as hard as you can and live with the results.”

He also noted the changing nature of officiating each season.

“You get new referees every year. You get new circumstances, and you never can really tell because every play’s different. And that’s what makes the NFL so special. I feel like I’ve just continued to play the game, and I just try to win. And whatever happens kind of happens.”

Kelce avoided addressing the officiating controversy when asked about it by his brother, Jason Kelce, during an episode of their New Heights podcast.

“I’d like to plead the Fifth,” Kelce joked, referencing his constitutional right to remain silent when his brother brought up the topic.

As the Chiefs prepare for the Super Bowl, the debate over officiating decisions in their playoff run is likely to continue.

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