Teair Tart is being disciplined for his five-fingers-to-the-face moment on Travis Kelce.
The Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Tart has been fined for slapping the Kansas City Chiefs tight end Kelce during their Week 1 game, Kris Rhim of ESPN reported Friday. The NFL is docking Tart a sum of $12,172 (which is in line for a first offense of striking, per league rules).
The incident occurred in the third quarter of the Chiefs-Chargers season opener at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil last Saturday. Tart and Kelce got tangled up on a block, and Kelce pushed Tart away from him. In response, Tart slapped Kelce across the front of his helmet with an open palm (see the video here).
Tart received a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the spot but was not ejected from the game. After the contest, which the Chargers won by a 27-21 final score, Tart clearly had no regrets and sent a social media post trolling Kelce over the slap.
The 28-year-old Tart went undrafted in 2020 and signed with the Chargers before the 2024 NFL season. He went on to appear in all 17 games, logging 29 combined tackles, two passes defended, an interception, a forced fumble, and a sack.
It is clear at this point that the Chargers definitely do not like Kelce as one of Tart’s teammates already went viral a few seasons ago for body-slamming the 10-time Pro Bowl tight end during a game. As AFC West division rivals as well, the Chargers and the Chiefs will get another guaranteed shot at each other this season during Week 15 in L.A.
