The Kansas City Chiefs’ supporters are already very upset that, despite being the runner-up in last season’s Super Bowl, they couldn’t beat the Los Angeles Chargers in their season opener.
Chargers Player Slapped Travis Kelce In The Face
Chargers Player Slapped Travis Kelce In The Face (Image source: X/@awfulannouncing)
Tension could escalate further if Swifties come in line. The Chargers defensive tackle became public enemy number one among NFL fans and Taylor Swift’s devoted fanbase Friday night after he slapped Travis Kelce across the face mask.
People became extremely agitated upon discovering that Tart somehow avoided ejection.
Teair Tart Somehow Dodges Ejection After Blatant Slap to Travis Kelce’s Face
The controversy erupted in the middle of the third quarter of the NFL’s season opener in Brazil, where Los Angeles upset Kansas City 27-21. Everyone started talking about the inconsistent officiating, comparing it toJalen Carter’s ejection.
Tart did slap Kelce after a Kareem Hunt carry. Both of them engaged in a usual post-play pushing at the moment, but the Chargers defender crossed the line with an open-hand strike to Kelce’s helmet.
Teair Tart somehow not ejected for slapping Travis Kelce ☠️
pic.twitter.com/dXChWM1laf
— JPA (@jasrifootball) September 6, 2025
He was flagged for 15-yard unnecessary roughness but remained in the game. The special treatment confused folks who expected an immediate ejection for the obvious strike to an opponent’s head.
It has generated significant backlash across social media platforms, with some humorously bringing Swifties into the flow immediately. But most of the folks don’t like the preferential treatment the Chargers defender got.
“Tart better chill them swifties gonna be on his ass,” one fanwrote. Another useraddedto the thread, “Swifties are going to find his address and ruin his life,” highlighting the notorious reputation of Swift’s supporters.
Some fans pointed to broader officiating inconsistencies. “But they let the cowboys do this last night. Sick officiating,” one X userwrote, referencing similarcontroversial calls from the Eagles vs. Cowboys game.
Following him, a second useradded, “Not as bad as spitting apparently.”
However, not everyone saw malicious intent in Tart’s actions. “This was obviously an accident; I don’t think he meant it,” one fanargued, though they appeared to be in the minority.
NFL Officials Explain Why Tart Avoided Ejection Despite Obvious Strike
According to NFL rules analyst Terry McAulay, officials ruled that because it was “open hand contact to the head,” it was not enough to disqualify Tart from the game.
The decision came from either executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent or senior vice president of officiating Walt Anderson, who determined the slap didn’t meet the threshold for ejection.
Terry McAulay explains why Chargers defensive lineman Teair Tart wasn’t ejected for this swing at Travis Kelce.
“According to Walt Anderson, they said because it was an open hand contact to the head, that was not disqualifying action.” pic.twitter.com/Ke2KsUxg54
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 6, 2025
Despite avoiding ejection, Tart was still punished with a penalty that quickly cost them their seven-point lead. On the next play, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes ran the ball in for a touchdown.
Harrison Butker missed the extra point, keeping Kansas City ahead by just one point… But the Chiefs were pushed to the back foot again, and the final whistle confirmed the Chargers’ victory.