[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs against Los Angeles Chargers safety Alohi Gilman (32) in the first quarter during a NFL game at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images

Travis Kelce has been in the news lately for reasons that have nothing to do with football. But that changed in a big way when he was playing against the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday.

Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart slapped Kelce on the front of his helmet following a two-yard run by Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt with a little over eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Referees quickly threw a flag and penalized Tart for unnecessary roughness.

The penalty moved the football to the Chargers’ 11-yard line. Patrick Mahomes reached the end zone on an 11-yard run on the ensuing play to cut Kansas City’s deficit to 13-12. Harrison Butker missed the game-tying an extra point.

Kelce had just one catch for 10 yards at the time of the penalty.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WATCH: Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce slapped by Chargers' Teair Tart

Reporting by Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect