Travis Kelce has been slapped with a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct after unleashing an "obscene gesture" during a game. The incident unfolded on Sunday, September 14, as Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs squared off against the Philadelphia Eagles at the electric Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Kelce, 35, let loose the controversial gesture following a thrilling 23-yard reception. He could be seen sprinting exuberantly down the Philadelphia sideline, all the while making a lewd motion towards his groin. The league has since fined Kelce a hefty $14,491, according to NBC Sports. He retains the right to appeal the fine through an official channel should he decide to pursue that course.
PEOPLE reached out to representatives for Kelce, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs, for their take on the matter on Sunday, September 21, but was met with no immediate responses.
Meanwhile, in the same game, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley found himself on the wrong side of the rules, incurring a $46,371 fine for "impermissible use of the helmet/launching." The incident occurred when Barkley appeared to deliberately lower his helmet before bracing for a collision with Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner.
The Chiefs, however, suffered a setback in the game—their second of the season—falling to the Eagles in a nail-biting 20-17 defeat. Their misfortune didn't end there, as they had also succumbed to the Los Angeles Chargers in their previous outing.
Reflecting on the loss to the Chargers, Kelce opened up on the September 10 episode of his "New Heights" podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce. "I know it might sound like a broken record from last year's Super Bowl, but the blame lies squarely on our shoulders as leaders," he confessed. "I'll shoulder the bulk of the responsibility myself. I simply wasn't prepared for that opening drive."
