Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has come to the defense of Travis Kelce amid concerns over his disappointing start to the NFL season.
Kelce has posted the worst numbers of his career so far in 2024, with his paltry eight reception returns for just 69 yards the lowest he’s ever recorded in a three-game stretch for the Chiefs.
Many have wondered if the legendary tight end’s dedication to football has waned amid his whirlwind relationship with pop megastar Taylor Swift, while some are even calling for him to retire as he approaches his 35th birthday.
But according to Reid, under whom Kelce has won three Super Bowls in Kansas City, the reaction to his slow start has been overblown.
The iconic Chiefs coach insists Travis isn’t distracted in any way and certainly hasn’t “lost his stride,” suggesting instead that NFL defenses are suffocating him because of his quality.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid (left) has come to the defense of Travis Kelce amid concerns over his disappointing start to the NFL season.
“I know people say he’s old or he has distractions, but defenses don’t think that,” Reid said of Kelce on Wednesday. “Trav is fine. He’s still Trav. He’s trying his hardest.
“He hasn’t missed a beat. He’s not distracted. (The defenses) are making sure he’s taken care of.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes made a similar argument about his longtime teammate after their win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
“The respect that defenses have for Travis is still incredible and well-deserved,” Mahomes said. “We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis and it’s like two or three people are going after 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.
Kelce has posted the worst numbers of his career so far in 2024 for the Super Bowl champions.
But Reid is convinced his tight end is fully focused, despite claims that his romance with Taylor Swift is distracting him.
“People are really pushing to try to get him away and let other guys go.”
In every season of his career so far, Kelce has averaged more than 10 receiving yards per game, but this season he’s down to 8.6 and has had just eight receptions in three games.
While the Chiefs have managed to win all three of their games (against the Ravens, Bengals and Falcons), Mahomes has passed the ball to his best friend much less than many expected.
Amid fierce criticism over his current form with the Chiefs, Kelce spoke out on the matter during the latest episode of his and his brother Jason’s New Heights podcast this week.
The NFL great, who was seen looking miserable on the Kansas City bench in Atlanta after his girlfriend Swift missed their first game of the season, admitted he’s not too worried about his individual stats as long as the team keeps winning.
“I’ve had a lot of catches in this league,” Kelce said. “I don’t worry about catches or yards or anything like that. I have more fun when they throw the ball to me, I mean, who doesn’t?
Kelce broke his silence on criticism for his slow start to the season in New Heights
“It’s all about execution and making sure we’re doing everything we can to win these football games, that’s always going to be the goal. I think everyone saw my downfall in the fourth quarter and on the crucial third down, just trying to do too much before putting the ball in play.
“Probably the most important thing for me is to make the play in big moments like that. I think with the way defenses are playing us right now, I’m not really getting a lot of opportunities to make plays down the field, but I don’t use that as an excuse.
“Going forward, I’ll continue to try to make sure I can help the team in that regard, knowing that I’ve been that tool for us in the past. Going forward, everyone is adjusting their game in the right direction.”