NFL Calls Out Travis Kelce's 'Worst Stone Cold Stunner' Celebration After Chiefs' Offseason Moves
Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs did not have the 2025 NFL season they were hoping for, finishing with a 6-11 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Now, the Chiefs have turned their attention to the offseason in hopes of getting back to the promised land, making several moves in free agency before selecting with the No. 9 pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
In his 13th season with the Chiefs, Kelce proved that he still has some juice left in the tank. The 36-year-old tight end secured his 11th Pro Bowl nod after recording 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns. And after taking some time to ponder retirement, Kelce elected to return to Kansas City for a 14th season in 2026, signing a one-year, $12 million deal with the team. But Monday, the NFL took notice of a different decision from the tight end.
In Week 13 of the 2018 NFL season, Kelce’s sixth in the league, the Chiefs defeated the Las Vegas Raiders (then the Oakland Raiders) 40-33 to improve to 10-2 on the year. With 12:11 remaining in the first quarter, quarterback Patrick Mahomes hit Kelce near the goal line, and the former Cincinnati Bearcats star dove into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game.
In celebration, Kelce found his former teammate Anthony Sherman , grabbing the fullback and pretending to slam him to the ground before both players hit the turf. Kelce then continued celebrating with the fans. The tight end was notably attempting to mimic a finishing move popularized by former WWE star “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, commonly referred to as the Stone Cold Stunner.
Nearly eight years later, the NFL is unfortunately still not impressed with Kelce’s poor attempt at the finishing move. And Monday, the league shared a video of the tight end’s celebration, hinting that Kelce may need some lessons from the wrestling legend.
"TRAVIS KELCE HIT THE WORST STONE COLD STUNNER OF ALL TIME 😂," the NFL wrote on Instagram. "gotta do better trav 😭 (happy 3:16 btw)"
Along with Kelce’s return, the Chiefs have revamped their offense with an impressive signing, agreeing to a deal with former Seattle Seahawks running back and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III , who will replace Isiah Pacheco .
Related: Travis Kelce’s Change in Physical Appearance Throughout NFL Career Draws Attention
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
