NFL analysts and fans are convinced that Travis Kelce is quickly headed toward retirement after his latest performance continued the worst form of his NFL career.
Kelce returned to playing a peripheral role Sunday night as the Kansas City Chiefs extended their perfect start to the season to 3-0 with a 22-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
The 34-year-old, whose girlfriend Taylor Swift missed a game for the first time this season, was caught on TV looking particularly miserable on the sidelines in a clip that went viral.
Kelce, a three-time Super Bowl champion, had just four receptions for 30 yards in Atlanta as his The slow start to the season continued after similar performances against the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
NBC lead analyst Cris Collinsworth admitted he was “stunned” by Kelce on Sunday night, having also watched him struggle in Week 1 against the Ravens.
Travis Kelce continues to be in the worst shape of his NFL career as fans and analysts tell him to retire
Kelce and girlfriend Taylor Swift attend the US Open men’s final during their trip to New York
He said in commentary: ‘I’m flabbergasted. I mean, one game is no big deal. Two games, it’s fine.
“This is the third game where we haven’t seen the magic of (Patrick) Mahomes and Kelce, and I can’t really explain it.”
Rodney Harrison, another NBC analyst, blamed Kelce’s recent lackluster performance on his other commitments.
He said: ‘He’s busy. He’s got a lot going on. Think about it. He’s doing a lot of different things. Media-wise, he’s playing football, he’s got other things going on.
“When you are in that situation you have to forget about everything else and concentrate 100 percent on football. That is the main responsibility.
“The guys are trying to get him. Jesse Bates did a great job on him tonight.
“He (Kelce) just doesn’t have the same speed. He’s still a good player, but I don’t think he’s a great player.”
Kelce’s stats compared to recent years show a clear drop in performance.
NBC analysts Cris Collinsworth (left) and Rodney Harrison (right) criticized Kelce on Sunday
After his first three games in 2023, Kelce had recorded 17 receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
He opened the 2022 season with 17 receptions for 230 yards and two touchdowns in his first three games.
In the same period in 2021, he had 20 receptions for 289 yards and three touchdowns.
So far this season, he has yet to score and has only managed eight receptions for 69 yards, which is the lowest number in any three-game stretch of his entire career.
Kelce’s potential retirement was the topic of much discussion toward the end of last season, especially since his brother Jason, who is only two years older, decided to step away from football in March.
But speaking ahead of the start of this season, Kelce admitted that football gives him “a purpose” and that he would find it “hard trying to decide when to retire.”
He said: ‘I love football and it allows me to get away from life and give myself something that makes me feel really happy.
‘I enjoy coming into the building, working on my craft, understanding a new game plan and perfecting it for the people around me.
Kelce is in the midst of the worst stretch of form of his NFL career after a dismal start to the season.
“It gives me a purpose to go about my day and live my life, and I’m really excited about doing that. It’s going to be hard to decide when to quit or not.”
Kelce has certainly begun to plan his life around football with his multitude of business deals and budding career as an actor and television host.
He will star in an upcoming FX horror series titled ‘Grotesquerie’ and will host ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?’, which will air on Prime Video. He has also been cast in the highly anticipated sequel to ‘Happy Gilmore’ with Adam Sandler.
In December, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Kelce had appeared in a staggering 375 commercials aired during football games. That was the most of any player in the NFL.
His deals, which range from Pfizer to Campbell Soup to Pepsi, were virtually all signed before his love life became public, but the WSJ claimed that many of the sponsors rushed the release of Kelce’s commercials to coincide with his new level of fame.
Kelce also recently signed a $100 million deal with Amazon for his popular podcast ‘New Heights’ which he does with his brother Jason.
Kelce has landed a role on Ryan Murphy’s new FX show, called ‘Grotesquerie’
Kelce recently dressed as a Roman gladiator in the latest campaign for Pepsi and the NFL.
Fans watching Sunday night’s game flocked to social media to suggest the game was decided in Kelce’s favor.
One wrote: “Looks like Travis Kelce is ready to retire. The regression is crazy!”
A second posted: ‘I hate that Taylor Swift ruined Travis Kelce’s NFL career. He’s too distracted… It’s time for him to retire so he can focus on his girlfriend and his podcast. Time to move on.’
A third added: “Travis Kelce needs to either get back to focusing on football or retire. He hasn’t had a single double-digit scoring game this season. Time to go.”
“The Chiefs have proven in three straight games that Travis is worthless to the team. Rice should get paid,” another shared.
One fan brutally posted: ‘Taylor Swift actually ruined Travis Kelce lol. Just back off Travis, your heart is not in it anymore little guy, and you’ll never be like Gronk.’
Kelce’s latest off-night came after his girlfriend Swift was unable to attend a Chiefs game for the first time this season.
The pop megastar was not present in Atlanta despite her free schedule, as she is enjoying a break from her international Eras Tour.
On Saturday, Swift was spotted on a casual night out with her BFF Gigi Hadid in New York City, where she rocked a plaid miniskirt as they grabbed a bite to eat at The Corner Store restaurant in SoHo.
The couple are said to be “far more nervous than they are letting on” about the break-up “contract” that emerged earlier this month and suggested a split was imminent.
Kelce’s representatives were forced to deny the couple had plans to part ways after a document written on the letterhead of his US PR firm was circulated online.
An alleged plan was outlined to issue an official statement later this month, three days “after the breakup” to “allow the initial media frenzy to calm down and ensure clarity.”
The document stated that the announcement would focus on Kelce’s “personal growth,” framing the breakup as a “natural part of life.” It would also highlight his “commitment to his career and his continued achievements in the sports industry.”
Following their first game of the season, Kelce and Swift flew to New York together for a romantic weekend.
They dined at Brooklyn’s famed Lucali restaurant, attended the US Open men’s final with Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, and were also invited to model Karen Elson’s wedding.
Swift was spotted on a casual night out with her best friend Gigi Hadid in New York City on Saturday.
Perhaps the clearest indication of Kelce’s declining football support right now is that his loudest supporters appear to be Taylor Swift’s legion of loyal fans.
The criticism, particularly from Harrison, sparked a furious backlash from Swifties who took to social media to defend him.
One posted: “This is a very absurd discussion topic. Because if you really pay attention to Trav, he is 150% focused on football.
“Outside of the podcast (which he records on his day off), we don’t see him. All the ‘stuff’ we see him involved in, he did during the offseason. I’m tired.”
Another user tagged Harrison in his post and wrote: ‘@Rodney_Harrison I see you have a family, but I don’t understand why you’re saying your wife distracts you from your work. Either keep Travis’ personal life out of the game, or put your own in it.’
“No way. Travis is staying up late at the facility doing more reps and they decide to say that,” added a third Swiftie.
Other fans blamed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid for not passing the ball to Kelce.
One fan said: ‘And they start blaming his offseason stuff again, no one talks about how Mahomes doesn’t give him the ball when he’s free.’
Another added: “He doesn’t have the same speed” and yet he breaks through every play and blocks successfully. “I’m done.”
Mahomes later said that Kelce’s coverage by opponents makes it difficult for him to get the ball.
The quarterback said: ‘I mean the respect factor they have for Travis is still unbelievable and it’s well deserved.
‘We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis and it’s like two or three people are going at him.
“He understands that. That’s the best thing about him. He wants to have an impact on the game, but in the end he wants to win.”
‘I’m going to try to do my best to keep passing the ball to him whenever he’s there, whenever he’s free.
‘I think the more Rashee (Rice) makes plays, the more we can run the ball, the more we can get (Xavier) Worthy involved, I think that will open up Travis more.
“People are really pushing to try to get him away and let other guys go.”
