The NFL season kicked off with plenty of drama in São Paulo, Brazil, where tensions flared between Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce.
What started as an aggressive block quickly escalated into a slap that has now cost Tart more than $12,000.
How the Incident Unfolded
The confrontation happened during the Chiefs’ opening drive, which ended with a Patrick Mahomes touchdown.
Kelce, engaged in a heavy block against Tart, pushed with full force until finally letting go.
That’s when Tart, visibly frustrated, turned and smacked Kelce across the helmet with an open hand.
At 6ft 2ins and 315 pounds, Tart’s strike was no small gesture.
Still, the fact that it was an open-palm slap—and not a closed-fist punch—was what kept him from being ejected under NFL rules.
The NFL Steps In
While referees allowed the game to continue, the league didn’t let Tart off the hook entirely.
According to ESPN, the NFL has now issued a $12,172 fine, calling it a first striking offense.
The fine aligns with standard league punishments, and the official announcement is expected with the league’s Saturday updates.
Andy Reid Voices His Frustration
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid wasn’t happy about the lack of in-game punishment.
Speaking earlier in the week, he admitted he couldn’t make sense of the ruling.
“I don’t understand that rule,” Reid said. “Whether it was an open fist or a closed fist, he got hit in the head pretty hard.”
When pressed on whether he would ask the league for clarification, Reid replied that he would work it out with officials privately.
Kelce Stays Calm Under Pressure
Despite the unexpected slap, Kelce kept his cool.
Rather than retaliating, he looked toward the referees and appealed for them to take action.
His restraint stood out, especially given the intensity of the moment and the fact that his fiancée, Taylor Swift, had already made headlines as a major storyline in Chiefs games.
Tart Responds with Humor
Off the field, Tart leaned into the controversy.
After Swift fans, known as “Swifties,” flooded him with messages, he reposted a famous Dave Chappelle skit featuring Rick James slapping Charlie Murphy.
He added laughing emojis, clearly referencing his exchange with Kelce.
He also shared a set of game photos on Instagram, cheekily captioning them: “I’m too swift with it even in Brazil…”—a not-so-subtle nod to Kelce’s superstar partner.
The Rules Behind the Call
During the broadcast, NFL officiating analyst Walt Anderson explained why Tart wasn’t disqualified.
Since the hit was delivered with an open hand rather than a closed fist, referees classified it as a non-disqualifying action.
In Anderson’s words, it was “an open hand blow to the head, not a punch.”
The Game Result
In the end, the Chargers held on for a 27-21 win, making their season-opener one to remember.
The Chiefs, however, now face an even tougher challenge: a Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Tart and the Chargers will look to keep momentum alive in a divisional showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.