Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce has come under fire from fans who believe he abandoned quarterback Patrick Mahomes during Super Bowl LIX. A viral video circulating online has fueled the debate, showing what many claim is a lack of effort from Kelce at a crucial moment in the game.

The Chiefs’ attempt for a historic ’three-in-a-row’ came to a crashing halt as they suffered a 40-22 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans on Sunday, 9 February. Andy Reid and his team endured a poor start, trailing 34-0 before salvaging some points in the latter stages of the championship game.

Patrick Mahomes had a game to forget, throwing two costly interceptions, including a pick-six, and getting sacked six times as the Eagles’ defense dominated. As frustration mounted, fans noticed Kelce’s apparent disengagement from the action, sparking a heated debate online.

Viral video shows Kelce not putting much effort during the Super Bowl game

A user on Reddit shared a short video from the NFL final match where Mahomes can be seen scrambling to evade three Eagles defenders near the 40-yard line. Kelce, standing near the line of scrimmage on the NFL logo, throws his hands up in frustration instead of adjusting his route or attempting to help his quarterback. Moments later, as Mahomes desperately rushes for a first down, Kelce remains stationary, allowing Eagles linebacker Oren Burks to deliver a brutal hit on the Chiefs’ star quarterback.

The video quickly gained traction, with fans calling out Kelce’s body language and apparent lack of urgency.

“Throwing his hands up in frustration BEFORE THE PLAY IS EVEN OVER is inexcusable at any level in the NFL, its next level to see that in the Super Bowl from your supposed leader,” one user wrote.

“Kelce played like a 35 YO TE that’s been riding the high of success for a long time who just crashed back to reality. He was slow, winded and looked disinterested,” another commented.

In his latest podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce, Travis has hinted at potentially retiring from the game after Sunday’s loss. Travis blamed himself for the Chiefs’ defeat, saying that he failed to become a good leader in terms of motivating his teammates. The Chiefs, on the other hand, have reportedly started grooming Travis’ potential replacement for the upcoming season.