George Kittle Comes to Travis Kelce's Defense Amid Fan Criticism

Travis Kelce made an appearance alongside his fiancée, Taylor Swift, courtside at Saturday night's playoff game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks.

As usual, the pair drew plenty of attention, and Kelce was involved in one of the night's most viral moments despite Cleveland's 123-108 loss.

In an attempt to fire up the crowd, Kelce chugged a beer, drawing cheers from fans and laughter from Swift as she watched from her seat.

However, as is often the case on social media, some fans criticized Kelce's actions, with one NFL fan in particular drawing a response from George Kittle, a close friend of Kelce's.

"Travis Kelce looking and acting like a teenager who just discovered alcohol is the farthest thing from a role model I can imagine," the fan posted on X.

Kittle replied, "Tony you gotta chill out man. Maybe have fun? Idk."

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After a brief but friendly back-and-forth, Kittle added, "Trav is at his team's playoff game and getting the crowd hype. They sell beer at stadiums. Bud Light is an NFL sponsor. It's ok to have a good time responsibly."

If anyone can relate to hyping up a crowd - especially by chugging a drink like Kelce did - it's Kittle, who is widely known for his energetic personality both on and off the field.

That same personality and passion both tight ends bring is also a major reason why they've enjoyed so much success throughout their careers and are widely viewed as future Hall of Famers.

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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 5:49 PM.