Travis Kelce scored a touchdown during his Wednesday, December 25, game, breaking a major Kansas City Chiefs record.
Kelce’s touchdown on Wednesday meant that the 35-year-old athlete beat Tony Gonzalez’s previously held record for the most career touchdown receptions. In celebration, Kelce dunked the ball in an homage to Gonzalez himself.
“I’ve been following him since he was a rookie and I’m not surprised by it,” Gonzalez, 48, said during a November broadcast of NFL on Prime Video. “He is one of the greatest tight ends of all time. … If he dunks it, I will pay that fine!”
It is against NFL rules to toss a football through the goalpost, often resulting in a hefty fine for unsportsmanlike conduct. The league has not confirmed further details about a potential fine.
Kelce’s touchdown led the Chiefs to victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10. He and teammate Patrick Mahomes were named the official game MVPs, earning Santa-inspired puffy robes and a red velvet cake packed into the shape of a football.
In a postgame interview, Kelce opened up about his milestone receiving record.
“It’s everything to me. Tony’s been a mentor to me, he’s been there right there for me [with] any questions I’ve ever had,” Kelce gushed. “I feel like I’m still trying to fill that guy’s shoes.”
HOLIDAY TOUCHDOWN FOR TRAVIS‼️ pic.twitter.com/sqgtsd0r1K
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 25, 2024
He added, “He’s such an unbelievable competitor and I’ve got so much love for him. It’s an honor to be in conversations with him.”
Quarterback Mahomes, 29, also acknowledged Kelce’s performance.
“We got a lot of weapons out there. We’re getting healthy at the right time,” Mahomes said. “The big guy leads us all, but we’ve got guys everywhere. I’m trying to hang on as long as I can.”
The Chiefs’ win over the Steelers earns the Missouri team the No. 1 seed in its AFC conference.
“I thought it was a full-team performance. Defense stepped up, offense stepped up [and] everyone had their imprint on the game,” Mahomes quipped. “I told my pregnant wife [Brittany Mahomes] I was going to get the No. 1 seed, so we can have the baby.”
Patrick and Brittany, 29, are currently expecting their third baby. In a pregame interview on Wednesday, Patrick told sportscaster Kay Adams that his wife is due “any day now.”
Brittany, for her part, did not travel to Pittsburgh for game day and instead watched the NFL matchup from home in KC with kids Sterling, 3, and Bronze, 21.
“Baking and watching Daddy,” Brittany wrote via Instagram Story on Wednesday afternoon.
