Travis Kelce is facing criticism for what many fans are calling a “classless” postgame move following the Kansas City Chiefs’ narrow victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday.
The Chiefs secured a hard-fought 19-17 win over the Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City during their Black Friday matchup. The game came down to the wire, with Kansas City managing to hold on for a dramatic victory.
On the final play of the game, Las Vegas quarterback Aidan O’Connell mishandled a snap while the Raiders were in field goal range, leading to a fumble that the Chiefs recovered to seal the win. Despite the tense finish, the Chiefs improved to an impressive 11-1 record for the season.
However, the excitement of the victory was overshadowed by postgame criticism directed at Kelce. The three-time Super Bowl champion reportedly left the field without shaking hands with many of the Raiders players, instead making a quick exit to the locker room. This move, seen by some as unsportsmanlike, quickly became a talking point on social media, where fans expressed their disappointment in Kelce’s actions.
“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,” one fan wrote, drawing comparisons to the controversial New England Patriots teams of the past.
Others echoed similar sentiments, criticizing Kelce’s behavior and comparing the Chiefs to the disliked Patriots dynasty. “Yep. Them and their fans. Worse than dynasty Pats and Mass holes,” another fan added. The bitterness from the Raiders’ supporters and other NFL fans was palpable, as many took issue with what they perceived as arrogance and poor sportsmanship from the Chiefs star.
One fan referred to a previous incident, writing, “What’s worse was that golf clap Kelce did when we beat them. It was giving ‘enjoy this but I’m better than you.'” This comment seemed to suggest that Kelce’s behavior has been a recurring issue for some fans, who view his postgame antics as disrespectful.
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Another fan voiced frustration with the Chiefs’ success, implying that their record was deceptive: “It’s because he knows they should be 6-6,” they wrote. Yet another added, “I hate the Chiefs, because of Kelce. Such a classless player.” The comments highlighted how polarizing Kelce has become, with many fans respecting his talent on the field while taking issue with his off-field demeanor.
While Kelce faced criticism, his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, took a different approach after the game, focusing on the team’s performance and areas for improvement. Mahomes acknowledged that the Chiefs still have work to do, despite their success this season.
“Just too many mistakes at the end of the day,” Mahomes said during his postgame press conference. “I feel like there were times offensively we moved the ball, but didn’t execute in the red zone. Didn’t execute well enough on third down. Too many mistakes. We’ve got to clean that up if we want to get to where we want to go.”
Mahomes also emphasized the importance of staying hungry and striving for improvement, even after victories. “It keeps you hungry. We’re not satisfied with where we’re at even though we’re winning football games. We have to get better. I think everyone in our locker room knows we have to get better,” he added. “We want to go out there and prove that. Our goal over these last few games is to prove [we are] the team that we believe we really are going into the playoffs and play like that throughout the playoffs.”
The Chiefs will have another opportunity to prove themselves when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers on December 8.
As Kansas City continues their push towards the postseason, the focus will remain on cleaning up mistakes and solidifying their standing as a true Super Bowl contender.
While Mahomes’ comments highlight the drive for excellence within the team, Kelce will also have a chance to address the criticisms and show the sportsmanship that many fans hope to see from one of the league’s top stars.
