In their latest roundup of on-field accountability decisions, the NFL has announced that no fine or suspension will be levied against Cole Bishop of the Buffalo Bills for his controversial hit on Kansas City’s star tight end Travis Kelce during the Week 9 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Bills. Heavy Sports+2Newsweek+2
The hit occurred late in the first half of the Bills-Chiefs game, when Kelce was targeted by Bishop in the end zone and briefly left the field for evaluation. Kelce later described the blow as “knocking the wind out of me.” Newsweek+1 Despite the severity of the contact, no flag was called during the game for unnecessary roughness. Heavy Sports
Following a review, the NFL’s Office of Game Day Accountability determined that the hit did not meet the threshold for discipline under existing safety and conduct policies. League officials reportedly took into account the fact that Bishop’s hit, while forceful, was not classified as a “blatantly egregious” act or clear violation of the defenseless-player protections. athlonsports.com+1
For the Chiefs and their fans, the decision lands awkwardly. Kelce is one of the league’s premier players, and moments like this raise concerns over consistency in player-safety rulings. Critics argue that allowing such hits without consequence undercuts the NFL’s stated priorities of protecting players and promoting player welfare. On the flip side, the league maintains that rushing to punish every hard hit could blur the line between physical play and unsafe actions.
The Chiefs, who now head into their bye week following the 28-27 loss, face scrutiny not only for their record but also for how incidents like this are handled going forward. Meanwhile, the Bills continue their season at 6-2 and will look to build on their momentum. Heavy Sports+1
In short: No punishment. No fine. And a sharp reminder that in the eyes of the NFL, not every hard blow is punishable — even when it lands on one of the game’s most visible stars.
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