NFL punishes Chiefs star Trey Smith for week 1 chop block against the Broncos
It was a relatively minor moment in a game the Chiefs controlled from start to finish
T he Kansas City Chiefs walked away from Week 1 with a convincing victory over the Denver Broncos , but the aftermath has brought some unwanted attention, and a few lighter wallets. After Kenneth Walker III and Rashee Rice faced scrutiny for their touchdown celebrations, Chiefs offensive guard Trey Smith has now taken a financial hit from the NFL.
Smith was fined $6,750 for a fourth-quarter chop block during Kansas City’s 31-10 victory over Denver on Sept. 14, according to the NFL’s official Week 1 accountability report. The penalty occurred with 9:50 remaining in the game.It was a relatively minor moment in a game the Chiefs controlled from start to finish, but the penalty had an immediate impact on one of Kansas City’s final possessions.
What happened on Trey Smith’s chop block?
By the time Smith was flagged, the Chiefs had already established a commanding 31-10 lead. Walker’s touchdown had extended Kansas City’s advantage to 21 points, and Denver had just gone three-and-out. The Chiefs took over at their own 6-yard line and began working the clock.
Kansas City eventually reached its own 34-yard line. With 9:50 remaining, rookie running back Emmett Johnson took a first-down handoff to the left. That was when Smith was penalized for a chop block. A chop block involves an illegal high-low blocking combination against a defender. The penalty erased Johnson’s run and moved Kansas City back 15 yards, turning first-and-10 at the 34 into first-and-25 at the 19.
The Chiefs managed to recover most of the lost yardage on the following play, with Johnson gaining 19 yards. But the possession eventually stalled. Denver's Zach Allen sacked Patrick Mahomes on third down, and Kansas City punted with 7:08 remaining. The penalty therefore gave Denver an opportunity to get the ball back, even though the Broncos remained three touchdowns behind.
Why was Smith fined $6,750?
The amount of Smith's fine was tied to the NFL's collective bargaining rules. The standard fine for a first-offense chop block is higher, but the collective bargaining agreement limits a player's first-offense fine to 10% of his game check.
Smith's 2026 base salary is listed at $1.215 million. That works out to a $67,500 regular-season game check, making 10% exactly $6,750. The NFL's official accountability report lists Smith's fine at that amount and identifies the violation as a fourth-quarter chop block at the 9:50 mark.
There is also a possibility that Smith ultimately gets the money back.
Under the NFL-NFL Players Association disciplinary system , certain first-time fines can be refunded at the end of the season if the player does not repeat the violation. Chop blocks are among the categories covered by that provision. So while Smith has been officially punished, the financial impact may not necessarily be permanent.
