NFL Fines Defensive Tackle Teair Tart for Incident with Travis Kelce

The NFL has decided to fine Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart for a recent incident involving Travis Kelce.

Tart slapped Kelce during the Chargers’ 27-21 victory in Kansas City last week, and the league announced the fine on Saturday afternoon. As of now, the exact amount of the fine has not been disclosed, but reports suggest that the standard penalty for such conduct is $12,172.

This incident occurred during the third quarter of a match played in Brazil. Tart reportedly retaliated after Kelce pushed him, striking Kelce’s helmet with an open hand.

The slap resulted in a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty against the Chargers. However, according to NBC Rules analyst Terry Macaulay, Tart wasn’t ejected from the game due to the nature of the contact. Macaulay noted that it was deemed an open hand strike, which, according to NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson, doesn’t warrant disqualification.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid expressed his confusion about the decision not to eject Tart, stating, “I don’t know the rules.” He seemed unsure about the difference in penalties for an open-hand slap versus a closed fist, remarking on the force of the hit regardless of how it was delivered.

Tart, who is 28, had signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million this offseason, including a $2 million bonus prior to training camp.

After the game, Tart took to Instagram to poke fun at Kelce and his fiancée, Taylor Swift, sharing a photo with the caption, “It’s too fast in Brazil too.” This post drew significant backlash from Swift’s extensive fanbase.