Travis Kelce involved in on-field clash with Chargers’ Teair Tart during season opener

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce found himself in the middle of an on-field altercation with Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart during the NFL season opener at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo.

The incident occurred in the third quarter on September 5, shortly after Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt completed a two-yard run.

Following the play, Kelce shoved Tart, who retaliated by striking Kelce’s helmet with an open hand. Kelce reacted by raising his arms in disbelief, while officials threw a flag for unnecessary roughness.

Although Tart was penalised 15 yards, the officials decided against ejecting him. Rules analyst Terry McAulay explained the reasoning during the broadcast: “According to [NFL officiating and rules analyst] Walt Anderson, they said because it was an open hand contact to the head that was not a disqualifying action. On this one, they felt that it was just an open hand blow to the head, not a closed fist, not a punch.”

Later that evening, Tart appeared to acknowledge the clash on social media by sharing a clip from Chappelle’s Show referencing the phrase, “What did the five fingers say to the face?”

Kelce’s fiancée, singer Taylor Swift, was not present at the game, though her fans quickly defended the player online. Comments under Tart’s Instagram included: “You mess with Taylor’s fiancé, you mess with us.”

The confrontation came less than two weeks after Kelce and Swift announced their engagement in a joint social media post, writing: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”