During an NFL game in Brazil on September 5, Travis Kelce found himself at the center of an unexpected confrontation with Los Angeles Chargers player Teair Tart.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 35, was playing his first match since announcing his engagement to Taylor Swift when tensions escalated on the field. In a notable incident, Tart, 28, reacted to Kelce pushing him by slapping the tight end's helmet with an open hand.
Kelce's reaction was one of surprise; he stepped back and raised his hands, seemingly questioning the rationale behind Tart's actions. The moment was captured and shared on social media by NFL reporter Arye Pulli, who remarked, “Teair Tart throwing HANDS at Travis Kelce. He wasn’t ejected for this, surprisingly.”
Further insights into the lack of ejection for Tart were provided by sports analyst Terry McAulay. He clarified that the decision stemmed from the nature of the contact—an open hand rather than a closed fist. “According to Walt Anderson, they said because it was an open hand contact to the head, that was not disqualifying action,” McAulay explained.
Despite the slap, Kelce continued to play and ultimately scored a touchdown during the game. Prior to this event, he had addressed the media in São Paulo, discussing how his life has changed since dating Swift. When asked by ESPN Brazil reporter Paulo Antunes about these changes, Kelce humorously noted, “Well, I got one more ring from it,” referring to his three Super Bowl victories with the Chiefs.
“Ever since I’ve been dating Taylor, life has been fun,” he added. “It’s been exciting. Obviously, a lot more eyes and I accept that. I’m living life. Living on a high, I guess.”
The couple announced their engagement through an Instagram post on August 26. Kelce expressed enthusiasm about traveling to Brazil with his teammates, emphasizing the bonding experience it provides. “You get to hang out around the guys and the team,” he said. “This is something we’ll all remember. You’re just kind of in the moment and excited to play some football tomorrow. You know, just enjoying the process and enjoying the experience with the guys.”
