Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was fined $14,491 by the NFL for making an inappropriate gesture during the team’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 14, according to NBC Sports. The incident occurred at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City when the Chiefs faced their division rivals in what turned out to be a difficult loss.
The gesture happened after Kelce made a 23-yard reception during the game. He was seen running along the Philadelphia sideline while making a motion toward his groin area. The moment was captured on video and quickly spread across social media platforms like X, drawing attention from fans and officials alike.
Kelce was fined for making what was described as a “huevos” homage to the movie Major League, referencing the gesture as he celebrated his catch. The NFL determined this action violated their unsportsmanlike conduct rules, even though the officials on the field did not flag him during the play. The officials missed it during the game, but the league office didn’t miss it when reviewing the footage.
Game performance and team struggles
The fine comes during a challenging start to the season for both Kelce and the Chiefs. Kelce finished the Eagles game with 4 catches for 61 yards and zero touchdowns. The team has struggled in their opening games, losing to both the Los Angeles Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles in a 20-17 defeat.
The NFL fined #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce $14,491 for unsportsmanlike conduct/obscene gestures last week.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 20, 2025
The gesture was … well, you can figure it out. pic.twitter.com/l7ZcuQ6RYJ
Game officials have been urged this year to watch for taunting and other post-play displays that cross the line. The league has been cracking down on unsportsmanlike conduct, and Kelce’s gesture fell into this category despite not being called during live action. The 35-year-old tight end has the option to appeal the fine through the NFL’s official process if he chooses to do so. This incident adds to Travis Kelce’s history of controversial moments, though most past rumors about the player have been debunked.
Did anyone else catch this Travis Kelce celebration directed towards the Eagles sideline?
— Aidan Doc
Later that drive was the drop into a game changing INT… pic.twitter.com/f2kctmYHZw(@AidanDoc__) September 19, 2025
Kelce addressed his team’s early season struggles on his podcast New Heights, which he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce. Speaking about the loss to the Chargers, he took responsibility for the team’s poor performance. He said it was sounding like a broken record from last year’s Super Bowl, but that it was on the team leaders to improve, with him taking the most accountability for not being ready for the first drive.
The Chiefs were hoping to start the season strong after missing the chance to win three straight championships. However, their 0-2 start has put pressure on key players like Kelce to step up their performance. The tight end, who has faced disciplinary issues before during his college career, now must focus on helping his team recover from their rocky beginning. Meanwhile, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was also fined $46,371 from the same game for improper use of his helmet when he appeared to lower it before making contact with Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner.
