Travis Kelce has acknowledged that his NFL season has gotten off to a slower start than usual amid ongoing criticism. The Kansas City Chiefs star tight end discussed his early struggles and how he’s handled the pressure during the latest episode of his and his brother Jason Kelce’s podcast, New Heights.
As they broke down the Chiefs’ recent victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Jason congratulated Travis for “finally getting going” after what he described as a “slower start” in the first three games of the season. Travis, 34, agreed but offered some perspective on his performance.
“I was struggling in terms of stats,” Travis admitted. “But I was still playing winning football, and that’s all that f–king matters.”
In the game against the Chargers, Travis posted 89 receiving yards on seven catches—his most productive game so far this season. This was a marked improvement from his previous performances, where he hadn’t surpassed more than 34 receiving yards in any single game.
“I was accountable this game. I didn’t have any drops—unlike in Atlanta, where I felt like I had a bad game,” Kelce elaborated. “But I still didn’t have an outstanding game. There’s a lot that goes into having a great game.”
Despite his self-assessed ups and downs, Kelce emphasized what truly matters to him: contributing to the Chiefs’ success. “I helped my team find a way to win, and that is all that will ever matter,” the three-time Super Bowl champion said.
Kelce also touched on the increased criticism he has faced recently, especially in light of his high-profile relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift.
Though he didn’t directly address the rumors that his personal life might be affecting his concentration on the field, Kelce made it clear that outside opinions don’t impact his focus. “Everything outside of the building is just noise,” he said, underscoring his determination to stay focused on football.
The Chiefs’ tight end has faced heightened scrutiny this season, especially after he was seen looking visibly frustrated on the sidelines during the Sept. 22 game against the Atlanta Falcons.
At the time, Kelce admitted the team hadn’t been playing their best football despite finding ways to win games. “We’re finding ways to win games, but we’re not playing our best football,” he reflected during a Sept. 25 episode of New Heights.
One factor Kelce pointed to as a challenge this season has been the defensive coverage he’s faced. Opposing teams have placed greater focus on limiting his opportunities downfield, making it harder for him to rack up the stats he’s accustomed to. “I’m not really getting a lot of opportunities to make plays down the field,” he explained.
However, he shrugged off concerns about his personal numbers, saying, “I’ve had a lot of catches in this league, man. I’m not worried about the catches and the yards and all of that.”
Kelce did not address the fact that Taylor Swift has been absent from the past two Chiefs games, but recent reports suggest her schedule and security concerns may have played a role.
According to a source, Swift is preparing to resume her Eras Tour and has found it more difficult to attend games outside of Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. “If she is going to a place that isn’t Arrowhead, there are security concerns,” an insider shared. “She has worked with Arrowhead so many times, they feel at ease and comfortable. Going to all kinds of different stadiums, you need to send a team in advance.”
As Kelce looks to find his rhythm on the field, it’s clear that his focus remains on contributing to the Chiefs’ success, regardless of the personal or professional challenges that come his way.
