Chiefs

Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy fined by NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates a touchdown in front of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during the second half at Acrisure Stadium.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates a touchdown in front of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during the second half at Acrisure Stadium. Imagn Images

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce couldn’t have been surprised to hear from the NFL in recent days.

The Chiefs tight end knew he’d get fined if he ever dunked the ball over the goalpost following a touchdown, and he did just that in Kansas City’s 29-10 road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

That was a nod to former Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, whose signature move was dunking the ball. Kelce did it after breaking a tie with Gonzalez for most receiving touchdowns in Chiefs history.

The NFL, however, wasn’t happy with Kelce’s homage to Gonzalez. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported the league fined Kelce $14,069 “for unsportsmanlike conduct (use of prop).”

Yep, the ol’ use of prop fine.

The good news for Kelce is Gonzalez said he’ll pay the penalty.

Kelce wasn’t the only Chiefs player to receive a fine from the league. Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy was docked the same $14,069, Pelissero reported, for his touchdown celebration against the Steelers.

Worthy’s transgression was “unsportsmanlike conduct (violent gesture) — pretending to show a gun in his waistband during a TD celebration on Christmas,” per Pelissero.

Pete Grathoff
The Kansas City Star
From covering the World Series to the World Cup, Pete Grathoff has done a little bit of everything since joining The Kansas City Star in 1997.
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