The Kansas City Chiefs‘ Travis Kelce is facing criticism for his performance in Super Bowl LIX once again, although this time it’s centered around the 35-year-old’s personality based on his reaction to the Philadelphia Eagles‘ Jordan Davis.
Footage captured the moment the tight end had a heated moment with the defensive tackle in the final game of the 2024/25 NFL season as he took a hard hit from his rival, but responded by pushing his opponent after getting in his face.
It’s likely nothing personal between them and was simply frustrations boiling over in a horrific game for Kelce and the Chiefs, as he made just four catches for 39 yards in the 40-22 defeat in New Orleans on February 9.
The only athletes pulled up for their actions at the Caesars Superdome were Milton Williams, who picked up a $14,069 fine, and Jalyx Hunt, who collected a $5690 fine for a “violent gesture”, although it’s unclear what the linebacker did.
But all the same, fans of the sport find themselves irritated that the Chiefs star once again seemed to escape serious punishment for unsportsmanlike conduct as the NFL let him off the hook, refusing to book him for either taunting or unnecessary roughness.
One user posted to X.com, formerly Twitter, “Travis Kelce is the only player allowed to repeatedly taunt others….never gets a flag.”
A second added of the lack of reaction from the Eagles, “I think they were shown footage and coached HARD not to fall for his chatter.”
And a third said, “He likes to talk and goat the other team into a reaction and get them flagged. Eagles were disciplined.”
To be fair to Kelce, the incident with largely looked like handbags and heated words. The 35-year-old brushed past the Eagles‘ C.J Gardner-Johnson with a slight nudge, before exchanging words with Jalen Carter. Finally with Davis, the pair were shoving each other a little but it was nothing particularly bad.
Chiefs give Kelce future ultimatum
Reports suggest if Travis Kelce doesn’t retire from the NFL then he will need to accept a brand new role with the Kansas City Chiefs at the Arrowhead Stadium, one that doesn’t place him at the heart of Patrick Mahomes‘ offense as per Nate Taylor from The Fan 96.5.
Coach Andy Reid wants the star to take a supporting role in the team and focus on mentoring the next generation of tight ends for him to use, which includes Noah Gray and Peyton Hendershot, the latter picked up from the Dallas Cowboys.
Kelce is said to have until early March to make his decision to stick or quit, when an eligibility for an $11m signing bonus expires.
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