BREAKING: NFL Announces Punishment to Patrick Mahomes for Action in Bills Game
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is facing a financial penalty following his first loss of the season to the Buffalo Bills. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported on November 23 that Mahomes was fined for a fourth-quarter incident during the Chiefs’ 31-20 defeat.
According to Pelissero, the league imposed a $14,069 fine on Mahomes for unsportsmanlike conduct after he made a “violent gesture” while celebrating a touchdown pass. Pelissero shared the news in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Mahomes wasn’t the only player penalized from last Sunday’s matchup, as two other players also received fines from the NFL for incidents during the game.
League Cracking Down on ‘Violent Gesture’ Actions
Patrick Mahomes was fined $14,069 by the NFL for making a gun-related gesture during the fourth quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 31-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The gesture occurred after Mahomes threw a touchdown pass to cut Buffalo’s lead to 23-21. As noted by The Athletic’s Mike Jones, the league has been cracking down on gun-related and other violent gestures, having informed players earlier this season that such actions would result in penalties and fines.
According to Jones, the NFL regularly warns players about these rules through preseason videos and the league rulebook, which explicitly bans gun-related salutes. This season, several players have already faced fines for similar gestures, and the NCAA has also started enforcing penalties for gun-related celebrations, mirroring the NFL’s stricter stance.
This is not Mahomes’ first fine after a loss to the Bills. Last December, he was fined $50,000 for criticizing officials following a controversial offsides penalty that negated a potential go-ahead touchdown. Mahomes later took accountability for the incident, acknowledging that his sideline outburst and postgame comments led to the fine.
“I had outbursts on the sideline, and everybody saw it in a big game,” Mahomes said at the time, per ESPN. “There are going to be consequences… You’ve got to live with those, learn from it, and not let it happen again.”
Two Other Players Face Fines
Patrick Mahomes wasn’t the only player fined following Sunday’s matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. According to Buffalo’s WGRZ, Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa was fined $15,400 for unnecessary roughness in the fourth quarter after using a hip-drop tackle on Chiefs running back Carson Steele. Notably, Epenesa was not penalized during the game for the tackle, which occurred on the drive where the Chiefs later scored a touchdown, leading to Mahomes’ celebration and subsequent fine.
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones also received a fine, $11,255, for grabbing a facemask during the game.
The Bills improved to 9-2 with the win, entering their bye week with the franchise’s best record through 10 games in more than 30 years. The victory further solidified Buffalo’s position as a top contender in the AFC playoff race.