NFL Slaps Kansas City Chiefs With Massive Six-Figure Fine

The Kansas City Chief defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-20 in a thrilling matchup to open up the 2024 NFL season on Thursday Night Football. While the Ravens nearly forced an upset with a late-fourth quarter touchdown, tight end Isaiah Likely's toe was out of bounds on the catch, and the score was reversed.

There was some drama early in the fourth quarter, as well. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes rushed the ball and appeared to take a late hit from Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith after stepping out of bounds. Chiefs tight end Peyton Hendershot, who was inactive for the matchup, defended his quarterback and pushed Smith after the play.

One day before Kansas City faces off against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, the NFL fined both the Chiefs organization and Hendershot over the Week 1 incident.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on September 14, "The NFL fined the Kansas City Chiefs organization $100,000 and tight end Peyton Hendershot $5,472 for a sideline shove that drew the ire of Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith in last week's kickoff game, per sources."

The refs did not flag Smith nor Hendershot during the game. According to Pelissero, Henderhsot, whom the Chiefs acquired via a trade with the Dallas Cowboys late in the offseason, plans to appeal the fine.

The Chiefs' fine comes on the heels of the league cracking down on inactive players and staff members' interactions during a game.

The NFL sent out memo to all 32 teams before the season started that read, "Clubs are responsible for the conduct of their players and other club personnel throughout the game day period. NFL Football Operations will enforce these policies and assess accountability measures on both individuals and clubs as appropriate, which may include ejection, fines and/or suspensions without pay."

As for Smith, he was not happy with Hendershot's actions, and sent him a clear message after the game.

"(Mahomes) flopped (on the sideline). That’s why they didn’t call it. Great no call. But whoever 88 is better watch himself. He did a little slick push. Whoever he is, I’ll see him when I see him."

While Smith avoided a fine on that play, the NFL ordered him pay $16,883 for unnecessary roughness for a horse collar tackle in the first quarter, Pelissero reported .

Related: Ravens $100 Million LB Issues Thinly-Veiled Threat to Chiefs TE After Loss