Travis Kelce may be dominating the tabloids due to his high-profile relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift, but on the field, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end has had a surprisingly quiet start to the 2024 NFL season. Despite the Chiefs improving to 2-0 with a narrow 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Kelce was a non-factor in the passing game, hauling in just one of three targets for a mere five yards at Arrowhead Stadium.
It didn’t take long for sports pundits to notice, and Stephen A. Smith seized the opportunity to make Kelce the subject of some light-hearted ribbing on ESPN’s First Take. Referring to the frequent shots of Taylor Swift in the stands, Smith quipped, “We saw more of Taylor Swift than we saw of Travis Kelce yesterday.”
Indeed, CBS’s broadcast team couldn’t resist showing Swift, who was frequently seen in the stands, cheering on the Chiefs. Unfortunately for Kelce, his lackluster performance gave the cameras few opportunities to capture the pop star celebrating her boyfriend’s usual big plays.
“We were supposed to see more of Travis Kelce yesterday than we saw of her. That’s not happening though,” Smith continued, humorously urging Kelce to step it up. “You’ve got to get going. You’ve got 39 receiving yards in the first two games. Come on now. Football season is here. Honeymoon’s over. Let’s handle our business.”
Smith’s comments point to a somewhat concerning trend in Kelce’s early season production. After catching three of four targets for 34 yards in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, Kelce has totaled just 39 receiving yards over the first two games of the season. For a player who’s been a cornerstone of Kansas City’s offense and has averaged over 60 receiving yards per game for six consecutive seasons, such low numbers have raised some eyebrows.
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However, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid doesn’t share the media’s concern. Reid, who’s seen Kelce dominate defenses year after year, believes Kelce’s slow start has less to do with any decline in his performance and more to do with how opposing defenses are adjusting. According to Reid, teams are focusing more attention on Kelce, knowing that he’s Patrick Mahomes’ primary target.
“He’ll get his catches,” Reid reassured reporters on Monday, via KXTV’s Jared Koller. “It’s not like he’s slowing down or any of that bit. That’s not what the deal is. It’s just that teams focus on him and know he’s been Pat’s go-to guy.”
Indeed, Kelce’s track record speaks for itself. A four-time All-Pro tight end, Kelce has consistently been one of the most reliable offensive weapons in the NFL. Over the past six seasons, he has averaged over 1,200 receiving yards per season, making him a key figure in the Chiefs’ passing attack. However, his slow start in 2024, combined with the added spotlight from his relationship with Swift, has created an unexpected storyline that both fans and analysts are closely watching.
As Kelce works to find his rhythm on the field, the attention on him—both for his football and personal life—shows no signs of slowing down. With the Chiefs off to a strong start, Kelce will look to get back to his usual dominant self in the weeks to come, leaving fans hoping that his best games are still ahead.
In the meantime, whether it’s for his football skills or his new off-field relationship, Kelce will remain firmly in the spotlight.
And for now, as Stephen A. Smith joked, Taylor Swift may be stealing the show—but for Chiefs fans, it’s only a matter of time before Kelce reminds everyone why he’s one of the best in the game.
