Patrick Mahomes has been fined heavily by the NFL for celebrating a touchdown during last week’s game.
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback found Noah Gray with a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.
After connecting with the tight end, the three-time Super Bowl winner made a gesture that caught the attention of those in power.
Mahomes pointed with two fingers on both hands, which the league said mimicked the use of weapons.
The NFL has been cracking down on gun-related gestures this season, and Mahomes has become the latest to fall victim to the league’s stricter measures.
The 29-year-old was fined $14,069 by the league for unsportsmanlike conduct — “a violent gesture,” according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
Patrick Mahomes was fined heavily by the NFL for a touchdown celebration
Mahomes pointed with both hands, which the league said mimicked the use of weapons
Mahomes’ Chiefs teammate Travis Kelce responded to the league’s crackdown on gun gestures earlier this season.
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard celebrated a first with finger guns against the Denver Broncos in late September. Although the gesture was not directed at anyone, Lazard was marked for the celebration.
During an episode of New Heights, Travis lambasted the league, while brother Jason called the NFL the “no-fun league.”
“I know we don’t want this to be like, ‘Oh, NFL players shooting guns,’” Travis said. ‘I understand that. But this is so subtle. Unless you do it to a defender, it shouldn’t be a flag. If you want to fine that guy after the game, whatever, that’s up to the NFL because they want to protect their league.”
The Chiefs tight end called it “absolutely ridiculous” for a “guy to be on the ground pointing his fingers because he’s the first one down and saying, ‘We’re going that way or whatever he’s doing,'” and was penalized .
“I just think it’s too much, man. It’s too much and it’s having a bad impact on the game,” Travis added. ‘I understand that the man has to follow the rules and things like that. I don’t want to get the NFL on my ass if I say something. But I just think this goes too far.’
“It’s my Second Amendment,” Travis jokingly exclaimed. “I have the right to bear arms.”
Travis reiterated how the fine could have happened if the NFL “didn’t want it.” He added: ‘Don’t make it part of the game where it affects the team. I think it’s a bit too much for that.’
Travis Kelce blasted the NFL for punishing the Jets for a player’s handgun celebration
Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard celebrated a first with finger guns against the Broncos
Giants receiver Darius Slayton previously accused the NFL of double standards toward the Chiefs
However, despite Mahomes’ latest penalty and Kelce’s criticism, others around the league believe the crackdown is inconsistent, especially when it comes to the Chiefs.
New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton appeared to hint at double standards in October after he was caught making a similar weapon move.
During a win over the Seattle Seahawks, the wideout decided to celebrate a 41-yard reception by signaling for a first down. Only instead of doing the signature arm motion like an NFL official, Slayton extended two fingers on his outstretched left hand while holding his right arm near his face, as if firing a gun.
Slayton was assessed a 15-yard penalty on the play.
In response to the flag, Slayton shared an X-post showing Kansas City Chiefs teammates Mahomes and Juju Smith-Schuster and Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb performing similar celebrations. The difference, as Slayton noted on X, was that the Chiefs teammates and Lamb were not penalized.
“It’s cool when they do it,” Slayton wrote online.
Slayton’s complaint reflects similar concerns that the defending champion Chiefs are being given the benefit of the doubt by league officials.
Conspiracy theories reached a fever pitch last season when Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s relationship with pop star Taylor Swift drew dozens of new fans to the league.