Mike Francesa recently sparked a lively discussion about Travis Kelce’s commitment to football, suggesting that the Kansas City Chiefs star’s performance may be suffering due to his high-profile off-field life, including his relationship with pop sensation Taylor Swift. Francesa didn’t hold back in his latest episode of The Mike Francesa Podcast, where he questioned whether the tight end’s focus has shifted away from football, stating it would be “silly” for the Chiefs and head coach Andy Reid to ignore Kelce’s lifestyle changes.
Francesa’s remarks came after a noticeable dip in Kelce’s on-field performance during the first three games of the 2024 NFL season. The 12-year veteran tight end, typically a dominant force, has started the season slow, tallying just eight catches for 69 yards and no touchdowns—a stark contrast to his usual production. Francesa speculated that Kelce’s burgeoning fame and personal life might be contributing to his struggles.
“As an organization and as a coach, you would have to question how dedicated Kelce is to the sport right now,” Francesa said. “He has a lot going on in his life. His life has taken a radical change. You see him in commercials, photo ops, and now he’s very conscious of how he’s dressed and where the paparazzi are.”
Kelce, 34, and Swift, also 34, began dating last summer and publicly stepped out together in New York City in October, a relationship that has since dominated tabloid headlines. Kelce’s off-field activities have only increased in visibility. He has starred in numerous commercials, landed television gigs, graced the cover of WSJ. Magazine, and is set to host an Amazon series titled Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity?.
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Despite his off-field success, Kelce has struggled to find the same rhythm on the field. His numbers are far below his typical output, and Francesa pointed out that Kelce’s on-field performance appears to be lacking energy and focus.
“When you see safeties strip the ball out of his hands in big spots, when you see listless pattern running from him, when you see him be a non-factor game after game—it’s puzzling. How much of that is on his preparation and dedication?” Francesa continued. “It’s extremely human. His life has changed. He’s now prancing around the globe with one of the most famous people in the world. His life is a photo op.”
Francesa also drew a comparison between Travis and his older brother Jason Kelce, who retired from the NFL in March. Jason, Francesa pointed out, waited until after his retirement to fully embrace off-field opportunities, including a $100 million podcast deal with Amazon that the brothers share.
“What he’s got on is a topic of conversation,” Francesa added. “He’s doing commercials with his brother who is no longer in the sport. Jason now can worry about being a personality, doing commercials, appearances, and the podcast because he’s not playing anymore. But nobody expected Travis to not play anymore. And right now, he’s not playing worth a damn, and it just brings up very legitimate questions.”
Francesa wasn’t the only one questioning Kelce’s dedication. Fans and critics alike have taken notice of the tight end’s slow start to the season, with some wondering if his off-field life is indeed affecting his play. While Francesa acknowledged that he is not close enough to the situation to know for sure, he insisted it would be “crazy” to think that Kelce’s life off the field hasn’t impacted his game.
Despite the criticism, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Kelce’s close friend and teammate, defended him, citing the extra attention opposing defenses have placed on Kelce. Mahomes explained that teams are now doubling or tripling their coverage on Kelce, making it harder to get him the ball.
“It’s crazy because teams still—the respect factor they have for Travis is just unreal. It’s well-deserved,” Mahomes said after the Chiefs’ 22-17 win over the Falcons. “We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis and it’s like two or three people are going to him. He understands—that’s the great thing about him. He wants to make an impact on the game, but he wants to win at the end of the day.”
Mahomes also suggested that as other offensive weapons like wide receiver Rashee Rice step up, it will help open up more opportunities for Kelce.
For his part, Kelce hasn’t shied away from addressing his slow start. Speaking on his New Heights podcast after Week 2, Kelce admitted that his lack of early success on the field has been frustrating, but he remains focused on bouncing back.
“I used to get really, really pissed off and almost lose my cool a lot of the time from not having that success, knowing that I demand that out of myself,” Kelce explained. “I like to play the game at such a high level of accountability that it’s just tough for me to deal with being mediocre or having stats that represent that.”
Kelce signed a two-year contract extension with the Chiefs in April, keeping him with the team through 2025 and making him the highest-paid tight end in the league with a $34.25 million deal. As the Chiefs continue their season with a 3-0 record, Kelce will aim to regain his form and prove that his commitment to football hasn’t wavered.
The Chiefs face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4, giving Kelce an opportunity to silence critics and get back to his dominant self.
Whether or not his off-field distractions play a role remains to be seen, but as far as Francesa is concerned, it’s a legitimate question worth asking.
