Chargers' Teair Tart Slaps Chiefs' Travis Kelce in Brazil NFL Game

During the NFL season opener in São Paulo, Brazil, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was slapped on the helmet by Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Teair Tart during a heated moment in the third quarter. Tart was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness but was not ejected, which sparked confusion and criticism among fans and analysts. Former NFL official Terry McAulay explained that the lack of ejection was due to the slap being an open-hand contact rather than a closed fist, which the league does not consider disqualifying. This decision drew comparisons to the ejection of Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter earlier that week for spitting on an opponent, highlighting perceived inconsistencies in NFL discipline. Despite the altercation, Kelce continued playing and scored a touchdown later in the game, with the Chiefs narrowly losing. Tart, who signed a one-year $4.5 million deal with the Chargers, could still face a fine for the incident.