Travis Kelce sheds light on the criticism he faced at the start of the season. The sports analyst criticized the Kansas City Chiefs tight end for his slow start after catching just eight passes totaling 69 yards in the first three games of the season.
“It’s fun, man. As long as I go there and we win, baby, that’s all that matters,” Kelce told reporters via video on X.
Early in the season, Kelce was a hot topic due to his poor performance on the court. Former ESPN analyst Todd McShay made a appearance on the Ryen Russillo Podcast in September as they criticized Kelce’s performance as well as his off-season adventures.
“Every show I watch, every pregame show, halftime show, postgame show, weekday show, every show I watch these last few weeks, it’s like we don’t have no right to say he’s not in good shape?” » asked McShay.
“That he was partying all offseason? He jet set with probably the most famous person in the entire world,” the analyst added, referring to Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift.
At the time, the tight end had just four receptions and 30 yards, so the analyst isn’t worried about his slow start.
“Now, is he going to get in shape during the season? Yeah, I’m sure he will,” McShay said hopefully. “He’s an incredible competitor, he’s one of the best to ever do it and he still finds a way to make a play or two here and there and shows up in some crucial moments, but it’s not the same anymore guy right now.”
Despite a slow start, the Chiefs head to the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
Travis Kelce hints at retirement
Related newsArticle continues below
In December, the Chiefs faced Kelce’s hometown team, the Cleveland Browns, and won 21-7. The tight end noted that playing them was like his “last hurray.”
“It was so surreal,” the Kansas City Chiefs tight end said on an episode of his New Heights podcast with his brother Jason Kelce. “I don’t know if this is the last time I’ll play in Cleveland, but I kind of felt like I was giving it one last hurray before I was done because you know I only played there twice in 12 years.”
Kelce signed a two-year extension with the Chiefs last year, where he will earn $34.25 million through 2027. By signing this contract, it makes him the highest-paid player at his position.
Chiefs quarterback and friend of Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, told reporters that the tight end has not discussed any retirement plans with him, but that if he decides to retire, he is glad they got to play together. Mahomes and Kelce played together for seven years with the Chiefs when the quarterback was drafted in 2017.
“No matter what, I enjoy every time I step on the field with this guy, knowing that he is a true legend of not only the Chiefs but the NFL,” he said.
As for Swift, she’s also very supportive of him continuing his career if that’s what he wants to do.
“She is completely encouraging me to enjoy playing this game” Kelce told Stephen A. Smith. “She loves coming to Arrowhead and going to the games and cheering for me, so I’ve had all the support in the world to continue to pursue these dreams.”
