After suffering his first loss of the season against the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is now facing a fine. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Nov. 23 that Mahomes was fined for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 31-20 loss. Pelissero shared on X that Mahomes received a $14,069 fine for a “violent gesture” made while celebrating a touchdown pass. Mahomes wasn’t the only player penalized following the game, as two other players were also fined by the NFL.
League Cracking Down on ‘Violent Gesture’ Actions
After throwing a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to narrow Buffalo’s lead to 23-21, Patrick Mahomes appeared to make a gun-slinging gesture, which led to a fine from the NFL. The league has been cracking down on violent gestures, including gun-related celebrations, and has warned players about the consequences. As Mike Jones from The Athletic reported, the NFL shows a video each year to players outlining acceptable and unacceptable celebrations, with the rulebook explicitly banning gun-related gestures. The crackdown has extended to the NCAA as well, with players being fined for similar celebrations.
This wasn’t the first time Mahomes faced a fine following a loss to the Bills. Last December, he was fined $50,000 for criticizing officials after a controversial penalty for lining up offsides on a potential go-ahead touchdown. Mahomes later took responsibility for his actions, acknowledging the need to accept the fine and learn from the experience.
“I had outbursts on the sideline, and everybody saw it on a big game, so there’s going to be consequences,” Mahomes said. “Now you just have to live with those consequences, learn from it, become better from it, and not let it happen again. But we kind of just kept it moving.”
Two Other Players Face Fines
Patrick Mahomes wasn’t the only player fined after Sunday’s game, as several others faced penalties for their actions. Buffalo Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa was fined $15,400 for unnecessary roughness in the fourth quarter after using a hip-drop tackle on running back Carson Steele. Although the tackle was not flagged during the game, it contributed to the drive on which the Chiefs scored a touchdown, leading to Mahomes’ celebratory gesture and subsequent fine.
Additionally, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones was fined $11,255 for grabbing a facemask during the game.
With the win over the Chiefs, the Bills improved to a 9-2 record, marking their best start through 10 games in over 30 years as they head into their bye week.
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