Travis Kelce went straight down the tunnel after Kansas City Chiefs narrowly beat Las Vegas Raiders on Friday – and fans slammed him on social media for a lack of sportsmanship.
The Chiefs won 19-17 thanks to an inexplicable late fumble by the Raiders. Rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball to quarterback Aiden O’Connell before he was ready and the Chiefs recovered the ball just as Vegas approached field goal range for a kick to win the game.
It was a chaotic ending – and a lucky one for Kelce and his team – but the victory meant the Chiefs secured their place in the playoffs.
Kelce, however, was in no mood to celebrate. He made a hasty exit rather than head onto the field to shake hands with the Raiders players and celebrate with his team. He did not speak to media after the game, either.
‘Travis Kelce left FAST,’ one fan wrote on X immediately upon seeing his exit. ‘His chemistry with (Patrick) Mahomes seems so off. I’m not sure what’s up this season.’
Another fan said: ‘I don’t know why everyone scared to talk about Travis Kelce. He’s such a little girl. He’s not even shaking hands after winning a football game. He’s walking straight down the tunnel without having any sportsmanship.’
A different take read: ‘Travis Kelce not shaking hands is on brand for his petty ass.’
Another viewer wrote: ‘Travis Kelce showing such class leaving the field without shaking hands after a win. I think I hate Kansas City more than I ever hated New England.’
It didn’t seem to go unnoticed by Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, either.
Cameras caught him saying ‘his a** took off’ just seconds after he congratulated Mahomes on their victory.
It wasn’t clear precisely who Crosby was talking out but Kelce was obviously a candidate.
Kelce, who had girlfriend Taylor Swift cheering him on from the stands, finished the game with seven receptions for 68 receiving yards.
But it was a frustrating game for the tight end on a personal level as he needed to score one touchdown to become the leading scorer for the Chiefs in their history.
He failed to do so, with Mahomes missing Kelce with a throw when he was open in the red zone in the latter stages of the 19-17 win. For now, the wait goes on.
The 35-year-old Kelce has struggled to recapture his finest form this season – much like his team, despite their place in the playoffs already being secure.
He showed flashes of his old self though, most notably when he threw a lateral to running back Samaje Perine in the second quarter.
Speaking for the team after the game, quarterback Mahomes admitted that everyone needs to get better for the Chiefs, even with the playoffs secure.
‘We don’t feel like we’re playing our best football,’ he said. ‘Too many mistakes. We have got to clean that up to get where we want to go.’
Kelce will take aim once again at Kansas City’s history books when the Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers a week Sunday.
