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

Stephen Colbert’s Emmys Kiss Cam: How a Bittersweet Date Night with Evelyn Turned the 2025 Awards into a Love Letter to Late-Night.

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, 2025, were supposed to be a glittering escape from the headlines: a night of awkward host jokes, surprise wins,…

She Woke Up Wrapped in Bandages. Police Walked In Minutes Later. Their First Question: ‘Do You Know Him?’ Her Answer Changed Everything.” 🔥😢

In the sterile hush of Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s burn unit, 24-year-old Bethany Magee opened her eyes for the first time in 12 days on October 26, 2025….

🔥 “She Wore a Black Lives Matter Hoodie—And It May Have Made Her a Target. This 24-Year-Old Is Now Dictating Her Story, One Panel at a Time ✊

She wore it the way other people wear wedding rings or religious medals: without thinking, because it had become part of who she was. A plain black…

She Was Set on Fire on a Chicago Train at 1 A.M.—Awoke 12 Days Later in the ICU Asking ‘Am I Dead?’ This 24-Year-Old Barista Is Now Fighting Back

In the early morning hours of October 14, 2025, the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line train was rattling through its usual subterranean route, carrying a weary mix…

Superman Star’s Brutal Comeback: Henry Cavill Endures Hellish Training Torment for Epic Highlander Sword Slaughter—Will Injury Scar His Immortal Legacy?

Henry Cavill, the chiseled British powerhouse who once soared as Superman and slashed through monsters as Geralt in The Witcher, is diving headfirst into a grueling training…

Superman Begs for Thanksgiving Invites? Henry Cavill’s Hilarious Kimmel Confession Turns Brit into Chiefs Superfan Overnight!

In the glittering chaos of late-night television, where Hollywood’s finest trade secrets for laughs, Henry Cavill delivered a bombshell that left Jimmy Kimmel—and millions of viewers—stunned into…