Travis Kelce Fined $11K by NFL for Taunting After Mahomes TD in Chiefs' Win vs. Bills

Zach BacharContributor IFebruary 1, 2025

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 26: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce #87 after a touchdown during the second half of the AFC Championship football game against the Buffalo Bills, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Travis Kelce was fined $11,255 for taunting during the Kansas City Chiefs' 32-29 win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, according to ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg.

Kelce received the fine for his actions after Patrick Mahomes found the end zone for a one-yard score in the second quarter, taunting Buffalo safeties Damar Hamlin and Cole Bishop. The star tight end wasn't penalized at the time.

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Mahomes makes it a two-possession game! 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BUFvsKC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BUFvsKC</a> on CBS 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a> and Paramount+ <a href="https://t.co/7E6dNJJKxM">pic.twitter.com/7E6dNJJKxM</a>

Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips responded by making helmet-to-helmet contact with Kelce, which also resulted in a $6,722 unnecessary roughness fine from the league (via Getzenberg).

Kelce finished the game with two catches for 19 yards, his lowest amount in any playoff game throughout his career.

Still, the Chiefs punched their ticket to a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance with a 35-yard field goal by Harrison Butker with just under four minutes remaining to go along with multiple defensive stops.

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The <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chiefs</a> take the lead with 3:33 to play. 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BUFvsKC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BUFvsKC</a> on CBS 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a> and Paramount+ <a href="https://t.co/MV7M8MgILT">pic.twitter.com/MV7M8MgILT</a>

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The Chiefs make the stop on fourth down! 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BUFvsKC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BUFvsKC</a> on CBS 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a> and Paramount+ <a href="https://t.co/s4rXNURB3z">pic.twitter.com/s4rXNURB3z</a>

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Per the NFL's fines and appeals schedule, taunting results in a $11,255 fine for a first offense. If Kelce commits another taunting violation, the next fine will rise to $16,883.

It shouldn't be too hard for the three-time Super Bowl champion to avoid another offense as he was only fined once during the 2024 season prior to his violation in the conference title game, per Spotrac.

Kelce was fined $14,069 for unsportsmanlike conduct during Kansas City's 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17, via NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. After breaking the franchise touchdown record with a score in the fourth quarter, he paid tribute to Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez by dunking the football over the crossbar.

While Kelce finished below the 1,000-yard threshold for the second consecutive season in 2024, he remained a key part of Kansas City's passing attack. In 16 starts, he hauled in 97 receptions for 823 yards and three touchdowns.

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Mahomes to Kelce is back in action 🚀 (via <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a>)<a href="https://t.co/TJf3kwcScZ">pic.twitter.com/TJf3kwcScZ</a>

As the Chiefs attempt to become the first team in NFL history to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in three straight years, Kelce faces a hefty fine for his actions against the Bills in the AFC Championship Game.