Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce is off to an uncharacteristically slow start this season. Through three games, the future Hall of Famer has just 69 yards on eight catches and no touchdowns, a far cry from his usual production. This has left the NFL world in real question Kelce’s age or offseason activities are catching up with him. Interesting developments come in front as the discussion goes deep.

Despite a slow start to the season, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid isn’t worried about his star tight end, Travis Kelce, amid growing criticism. Some observers blamed Kelce’s offseason partying, particularly with Taylor Swift, for his struggles. Reid as usual was quick to shut that down, saying, “Trav is fine. He just keeps being Trav. He works his tail off. He hasn’t lost a step. He’s not distracted”

Former ESPN analyst Todd McShay argued Kelce’s offseason lifestyle has taken a toll on his game. “He’s been partying all offseason. He’s been jet-setting around with the most famous person probably in the entire world,” McShay said on The Ryen Russillo Podcast. He pointed to Kelce’s appearances at the U.S. Open and other public events as distractions, questioning whether the tight end is in top shape. “He’s not the same guy right now,” McShay remarked.

But Reid believes defenses are focusing heavily on their TE, which has contributed to his lack of targets. “They’re making sure he’s taken care of,” Reid explained, noting that teams have doubled him, shifted opportunities to other receivers, like Rashee Rice.

Despite the noise, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes backed his teammate, emphasizing Kelce’s team-first mentality. “The respect factor they have for [Kelce] is just unreal,” Mahomes said. “He wants to make an impact, but he wants to win at the end of the day.”

Travis Kelce’s slow start in 2024

Travis Kelce’s 2024 season has been off to a surprisingly not up to the mark, especially for a player who has set the bar so high throughout his career. During Week 3 against the Falcons, the three-time Super Bowl champion only managed four receptions for 30 yards, leaving fans scratching their heads.

Kelce’s age is certainly starting to show, as the soon-to-be 35-year-old tight end has noticed a decrease in production compared to his earlier seasons. From 2013 to 2022, the TE averaged over 71 receiving yards per game, but since the start of the 2023 season, that number has dropped to 58.5 yards. He’s still getting a similar amount of targets, but the big plays and touchdowns aren’t coming as often, with just 5 touchdowns in the last 18 games.

But despite the lower numbers, Kelce isn’t too worried. “I played like trash,” he admitted on his New Heights podcast, but was quick to clarify, “I’m playing winning football. It’s not trash. But it could be better.” He’s also not stressing about the targets. “I just want to have a successful offense,” Kelce said, adding that he trusts Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid to make the right decisions.

While some fans want to point to his relationship with Taylor Swift or his foray into acting, Kelce knows the biggest factor is simply his age. Still, with his competitive drive, there’s no doubt he’ll continue to grind as the Chiefs chase another Super Bowl.

With that being said, do check out our latest Think Tank exclusive interview with Doug Sanders. It’s packed with insights on the current NFL season, college football, NIL, and much more.