Unseen footage has surfaced of Travis Kelce celebrating a potential touchdown pass a bit too early during the Kansas City Chiefs’ 22-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. While the Chiefs continued their perfect start to the season, improving to 3-0 as they defend their Super Bowl crown, Kelce’s night was marked by a less-than-stellar personal performance and a prematurely enthusiastic celebration that has drawn plenty of attention from NFL fans.
The incident occurred when Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes attempted a 23-yard pass to tight end Noah Gray in the end zone. Before the outcome was even decided, Kelce—assuming the play was a success—threw one arm in the air in celebration. However, to his embarrassment, when he turned around, he realized Mahomes’ pass had been intercepted by a Falcons defender.
Fans on social media were quick to poke fun at Kelce’s premature celebration. One fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Kelce celebrating when Mahomes throws it, only for it to then get picked, is killing me.” Another joked, “‘Wait, that wasn’t in the script…'” referencing the viral “NFL is scripted” meme. A third fan likened Kelce’s move to NBA star Steph Curry, who’s known for celebrating before his shots go in, saying, “Lol, he tried to pull a [Steph] Curry.” And one harsh critic bluntly commented, “Dude is such a tool it’s unbearable.”
While Kelce faced his share of ridicule, some fans pointed their frustration toward Mahomes, arguing that Kelce’s celebration made sense given the situation. One fan remarked, “I mean, this is an AWFUL throw. I can see why Mr. Swift thought this was a forgone conclusion,” playfully referencing Kelce’s high-profile relationship with singer Taylor Swift. Another added, “Kinda shows you how bad Mahomes has been, relative to what he’s done historically. That’s an easy pitch and catch for them.”
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Kelce’s performance on Sunday continued a concerning trend for the tight end, as he has struggled to make his usual impact this season. Through three games, Kelce is averaging a career-low 23 yards per game and was visibly frustrated on the sidelines during the Chiefs’ narrow win over the Falcons.
The 34-year-old tight end, who has been a cornerstone of Kansas City’s offense for years, now faces growing speculation about his future, with some fans even suggesting it might be time for him to “retire.”
The criticism extended beyond the game, with former ESPN football analyst Todd McShay taking aim at Kelce for “partying all offseason” with his girlfriend, Taylor Swift. McShay implied that Kelce’s focus may have drifted from football due to his high-profile relationship and social activities.
Despite the public scrutiny, Kelce’s teammates remain confident in his abilities and leadership. Defensive end George Karlaftis defended Kelce during an interview with TMZ, saying the veteran tight end “hasn’t skipped a beat.”
“He’s a guy that loves football, he’s going to come and work his tail off every single day no matter what, and teams have to respect him,” Karlaftis said. “He’s the greatest tight end to ever play, you could argue, and I certainly think so. You gotta account for him; he’s going to face double and triple teams, and that opens up guys like Rashee [Rice] and our running game.”
Karlaftis continued, “He commands a lot of respect, and that’s not going to change because of one or two tough games.”
As Kelce continues to face extra defensive attention and battle through his early-season struggles, it’s clear his presence on the field still demands respect. Despite the recent criticism and the premature touchdown celebration, Kelce remains an integral part of the Chiefs’ offense and will likely be a key factor as they continue their quest for another Super Bowl.
The Chiefs will look to keep their momentum going as they prepare for their next matchup, and all eyes will be on whether Kelce can bounce back from a slow start and silence his critics.