Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is facing backlash following a controversial moment during the team’s recent victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Fans are questioning Kelce‘s decision to celebrate prematurely during a play that resulted in an interception thrown by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In a video clip shared by Twitter user @JCohen_NFL, Kelce can be seen running toward the sideline with his arm raised, seemingly in response to Mahomes‘ intended pass to tight end Noah Gray.
However, the pass was intercepted by Falcons safety Justin Simmons.
“Kelce celebrating when Mahomes throws it, only for it to then get picked, is killing me,” the user commented.
The clip quickly went viral, amassing over 2.1 million views and eliciting a wave of reactions. While many found humor in the situation, some speculated that Kelce might have been signaling for the ball rather than celebrating.
Kelce celebrating when Mahomes throws it, only for it to then get picked, is killing me. pic.twitter.com/KXCO9guMzW
— Josh Cohen (@JCohen_NFL) September 24, 2024
Kelce is struggling to find form this season
The interception was Mahomes‘ sole mistake in an otherwise solid performance, where he completed 26 of 39 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Chiefs to a 22-17 win.
In contrast, Kelce had a quiet evening with only four receptions for 30 yards, which fueled further discussion about his slow start to the season.
Despite the ongoing criticism surrounding his performance, Kelce addressed the situation on the “New Heights” podcast, focusing on his commitment to team success rather than personal statistics.
“I’ve had a lot of catches in this league, man; I’m not worried about the catches and the yards,” he stated.
“It has everything to do with execution and just making sure we’re doing everything we can to win these football games. That’s always going to be the goal.”
Through three games this season, Kelce has tallied eight receptions for 69 yards without scoring a touchdown, a stark contrast to his impressive 2022 season, where he recorded 93 receptions, 984 yards, and five touchdowns.
The Chiefs organization continues to express confidence in Kelce‘s abilities despite the external criticism.
Head coach Andy Reid defended his tight end during a press conference.
“Trav is fine. He just keeps being Trav. He works his tail off and hasn’t lost a step. The defenses don’t think that. They’re making sure he’s taken care of,” he said.
