As he prepares for his 12th NFL season, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has opened up about the physical toll the game has taken on him.
Speaking candidly, Kelce acknowledged that the 2023 season was particularly taxing.
“Last year was pretty taxing on my body,” Kelce said Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adam Teicher. “I’ve had more snaps than a lot of guys, if not everybody in the NFL, over the past five, six years, and I’m very prideful of that, but I know it has taken a toll on my body.”
Kelce appeared in 15 games last season, participating in 77% (775) of the team’s offensive snaps during that period. He consistently logged 899 or more snaps each season from 2018 to 2022, a testament to his durability and importance to the Chiefs’ offense.
Despite feeling more worn down than usual, the 34-year-old star is eager to get back on the field. “Everybody may say that is pretty grueling, but I enjoy it,” Kelce remarked. “There’s something about this place that gets you ready every single year, and I’m not going to lie, I got pretty excited as the time started counting down to get out here and get this thing rolling.”
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As the Chiefs gear up to pursue their third consecutive Super Bowl victory and fourth in six seasons, Kelce emphasized the significance of this time in the preseason. “This is where you really find out what the team is made of,” he added.
Since being drafted in the third round in 2013, Kelce has been a cornerstone of the Chiefs’ offense. Over his career, he has appeared in 159 games, amassing 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns on 907 receptions.
His contributions have earned him four first-team All-Pro selections and cemented his reputation as one of the best tight ends in NFL history.
As Kelce and the Chiefs embark on another season, fans and teammates alike will be looking to see how he continues to perform at such a high level despite the physical demands of his long and illustrious career.
