Travis Kelce handed final punishment decision by NFL after breaking strict rule despite Tony Gonzalez paying his fine

TRAVIS Kelce received a final punishment resolution by the NFL after breaking a league rule.

The Kansas City Chiefs star tight end, 35, was fined by the NFL which was paid by team legend and NFL Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez.

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts on the field.
Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce spotted before an NFL game on November 4, 2024

Travis Kelce (87) of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a touchdown.
Kelce received a fine after celebrating a touchdown with a slam dunk over the crossbar during the Chiefs’ Christmas Day road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers

Tony Gonzalez holding an Amazon Prime microphone during an NFL game.
Chiefs Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez paid the fine

During the Chiefs’ Christmas Day win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kelce paid homage to Gonzalez, who he passed on the touchdown receptions list with his 77th scoring reception with the franchise.

It was the most touchdowns in Chiefs history as Kelce dunked the football over the crossbar after scoring a touchdown – a nod to Gonzalez’s signature celebration.

The action prompted a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct flag from the refs, and the NFL proceeded to fine Kelce $14,000 for the celebration.

Gonzalez said before the contest that he would pay for any fine that Kelce was handed for the gesture, which the 10-time Pro Bowler said he had planned in advance.

The 48-year-old sent a congratulatory message after his touchdown, and Kelce responded with a thank you but also reminded him to take care of the upcoming fine.

“You know I had to show love to the greatest of all time!!” Kelce wrote on X. You did mention you’d help me with the fine tho.”

Gonzalez did pay up, but Kelce revealed what he did with the fine money.

During Wednesday’s episode of New Heights, Kelce told his co-host, brother Jason Kelce, and special guest LeBron James, that the money was used to support his 87 and Running foundation.

“Oh my god… the NFL had the nerve to fine you for that sh**, like come on man. Relax, relax,” the Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron said.

“It was a fine well worth it,” Travis said.

“In fact, Tony [Gonzalez] helped me out with that one but instead of throwing any money at me I just told him to send it to the foundation, so shoutout to Tony G, you’re a real one,” he added while clapping.

Kelce began his foundation in 2015 as the charity looks to help disadvantaged kids with education and community resources.

The 87 and Running website said it aims to “change the outcomes of underserved youth in communities across the U.S. by creating access to opportunities, enrichment, and advancement.”

Kelce and the Chiefs will face the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday.

NFL division round schedule

Sat 18 Jan, 4.30 pm ET (ESPN/ABC) – Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs

Sat 18 Jan, 8 pm ET (Fox) – Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions

Sun 19 Jan, 3 pm ET (NBC) – Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles

Sun 19 Jan, 6.30 pm ET (CBS) – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills

Kansas City hasn’t played a meaningful down of football since the Christmas Day game and secured a first-round bye in the playoffs thanks to a 15-2 record in the regular season.

The Chiefs will eye to achieve the league’s first-ever three-peat.

Kelce will hope to rebound after an inconsistent season by his usual standards.

He recorded 823 receiving yards and posted just three total touchdowns – both career-lows.

Related Posts

Anthony Joshua’s Emotional First Words After Tragedy: “My Brother’s Keeper” – Heartfelt Post with Mum & Grieving Families Ahead of Friends’ Funeral.

Anthony Joshua has broken his silence following the heartbreaking car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of his close friends and team members Sina Ghami and…

Anthony Joshua’s Heartbreaking Tribute: Breaks Silence with Emotional Post Alongside Mum & Bereaved Families Before Attending Friends’ Funeral.

In his first public statement since a devastating car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends, Anthony Joshua has shared a deeply moving…

Stephen Colbert’s Adorable Dog Benny Steals the Show Again – Plus His Hilarious “Rescue Dog Rescue” Segment That’s Saved Hundreds of Pups!

Stephen Colbert, the witty host of The Late Show, isn’t just known for his sharp political satire and celebrity interviews – he’s also a massive dog enthusiast…

She Ran Into the Water Without Thinking’: Heartbroken Friends Speak Out as Mother and Daughter Are Swept Away by the Sea

The North Sea, that vast and unforgiving expanse off England’s east coast, has long been both a source of beauty and a harbinger of peril. On a…

🚨📹 A Hooded Figure Caught on Grainy CCTV Just Hours Before a Dentist and His Wife Were Shot Dead — Police Say This Walk Could Identify the K!ller

Snowflakes drifted silently through the pre-dawn darkness of December 30, 2025, blanketing the streets of Weinland Park, a vibrant yet transitioning neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio. In a…

👤📹 Who Was the Shadow on CCTV? New Clues Deepen the Mystery of Missing Texas A&M Grad Sydney Marquez

Houston’s sprawling metropolis, with its glittering skyline and endless highways, hides countless stories beneath its bustling surface. But few have gripped the public imagination quite like the…