What separates a great player from a Hall of Famer? Work. No shortcuts, no excuses. Just relentless work. And if you thought Travis Kelce was slowing down, you haven’t been paying attention. Early in the season, the whispers started—’maybe he’s lost a step,’ ‘maybe the Chiefs should start thinking about life after Kelce.’ It’s still true, they should. After all, he’s 35… But has he still got it? Oh, YES!

Fast forward to now, and the man is about to play in yet another Super Bowl, chasing history. The three-peat. How’s that for washed? Travis Kelce heard the doubters—Now he’s making them regret it. And what a time to come alive, eh?

So, who else than the Chiefs HC Andy Reid to tell us what makes Kelce tick? On The Pat McAfee Show, Reid didn’t hesitate: “Travis Kelce never wants to miss a rep in practice, and he absolutely hates coming out of the game. I love that about him.” That’s Kelce. He plays every snap like he’s got something to prove, even when he’s already proven everything. And when the postseason arrived, so did he.

Meanwhile, we can understand the shouts of him slowing down. From 2016 to 2023, he made 1,000-yard seasons look easy. Seven straight! He wasn’t just playing the position; he was redefining it. But then came 2024, and for the first time in nearly a decade, he looked… human. No 1,000-yard season. No game-breaking performances every other week. Suddenly, the questions weren’t about his greatness—they were about his longevity.

But let’s be real: 2024 was different. His numbers dipped. But so did Patrick Mahomes’ numbers! Is he washed at 29, by that logic? The thing about Trav is that he has so far accumulated 823 rec. yards and just three touchdowns—the lowest since his second year in the league. One 100-yard game all season? Unheard of. He wasn’t making defenders look foolish like he used to, and the yards after catch—the stat that separated him from every other tight end—weren’t piling up the same way.

So, what changed? Age? Wear and tear? A mix of all… But what has not changed is the fact that he’s back in the February-ball. The only game that matters this month. Here he is, yet again! On the doorstep of another Super Bowl. He heard the doubts, felt the weight of a season where he wasn’t quite himself, and now? He’s back when it matters most. Because that’s what Hall of Famers do.

Patrick Mahomes is glad he got to share the field with Travis Kelce

Ask Andy Reid about Patrick Mahomes, and he won’t just talk about arm talent or Super Bowls. He’ll tell you about the kid who grew up in a locker room, the humble leader who lifts up his teammates, and the guy who always knows when to dish out praise and when to let his play do the talking. “He grew up in the locker room. He’s humble. What a phenomenal teammate. Always complements his guys. He kind of knows when to pull on and when to back off on the complements,” Reid said on the Pat McAfee Show.

But for Mahomes, greatness isn’t just about him—it’s about the guy lining up next to him every Sunday. Because for all his own accolades, Mahomes knows one thing: greatness means Travis Kelce.

Kelce might not have had his usual numbers this season. In fact, they were the lowest of his career since his first full year as a starter. But when the lights get brighter, he shows up. That’s not just an opinion—that’s history. “The best players and the best leaders step up and make the best plays,” Mahomes said, backing his tight end without hesitation. And the numbers prove it.

Kelce’s regular-season yards per game? 69.4. His playoff average? 86.5. Nobody has more postseason receptions than him. Nobody, except Jerry Rice, has more playoff receiving yards or touchdowns.

If there were any doubts about what he has left in the tank, they should’ve been erased in the divisional round against Houston. 117 yards. A touchdown. Another trip to the AFC Championship game with the Chiefs. A win there… Showing resilience against the Bills. Maybe he was saving himself for when it mattered most. Maybe he was just waiting for this moment. Either way, Kelce has nothing left to prove.

Eleven seasons in, two rings, countless records—if he walked away tomorrow, he’d do it as an all-time great. And maybe, just maybe, that’s on his mind. Mahomes doesn’t know if this is Kelce’s last ride. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. Either way, the plan remains the same: win. “If it’s his last game, let’s go out there and get him a win. If it’s not his last game, let’s go out and win anyway,” Mahomes said. Because when you have a teammate like Kelce, you don’t take it for granted. You appreciate every snap, every route, every big-game moment.

So, whether this is Kelce’s final Super Bowl or just another chapter, one thing is clear—Mahomes wouldn’t trade a single second of it.