Travis Kelce Shouts Out ‘My Guy’ Harrison Butker for Assistance After Touchdown Celebration Penalty

Travis Kelce

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Travis Kelce thanked Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker for keeping an extra gift in his back pocket on Christmas Day.

Kelce, 35, took an unsportsmanlike penalty for his touchdown celebration on Wednesday, December 25, slamming the football through the goalpost as an homage to Tony Gonzalez, who Kelce had just surpassed on the Chiefs’ all-time touchdown receptions list.

As a result, Butker, 29, was forced to kick a 48-yard extra point, instead of the usual 33-yard attempt, thanks to Kelce’s 15-yard penalty.

After the game, Kelce told reporters he wasn’t concerned in the slightest about what his penalty might incur.

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“I knew the score,” he said. “I knew my guy Harrison had my back on the field goal.”

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 25, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Kelce’s fourth quarter touchdown and Butker’s ensuing extra point put the Chiefs up 29-10 on the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would end up being the final score. The victory guaranteed Kansas City the No. 1 seed in the AFC, ensuring a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Butker returned to the Chiefs lineup during the team’s December 15 game against the Cleveland Browns after missing the previous four games with a meniscus tear in his left knee.

Currently in his eighth season with Kansas City, Butker stoked controversy for his commencement address at Benedictine College in May when he called on women to embrace the role of “homemaker” and equated Pride Month to a “deadly sin,” among other inflammatory comments.

As for the touchdown celebration itself, Kelce was happy to honor Gonzalez, 48, who spent the first 12 seasons of his illustrious NFL career with the Chiefs.

Harrison Butker

“It’s showing Tony some love and just a big tribute to who he’s been, not only in this organization, but who he’s been for football,” Kelce said. “We know how iconic it was that he would dunk the ball through the goalpost all the time.”

Kelce added with a smile, “I gave it my best effort. I don’t know if I did it quite like him. I gave it a run.”