The Kansas City Chiefs boasts of a dynamic duo like no other in the NFL. QB Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce have evolved into a force so dominant, that they’ve earned a fitting nickname: the “king and queen.” A recent conversation about the football’s royal couple emerged, capturing their involvement in the Chiefs’ win.

On the Green Light Apple podcast, analyst Chris Long and Chiefs’ safety Justin Reid discuss the two players’ off-field relationship. Chris labels Mahomes the “king” (for his 4th-quarter dominance) and Kelce the “queen” (the perfect complement to the king). Justin, however, mocks this: “Coach Reid’s the king. The most powerful piece is the queen, so you know… But Mahomes is the queen; he’s the best piece on the board.”

Chris clarifies his reasoning, explaining that he considers Mahomes as the field leader. The analyst remarked, “I took Reid out of it; I had Mahomes as the king because the king’s really powerful. And the king on the field for y’all is… Mahomes. He’s the fucking man of the 4th quarter. And then his queen would be Kelce. His queen would be Kelce!!”

This “king and queen” analogy isn’t just a joke, though. The Chiefs drafted Mahomes in 2017, and ever since, he’s shared a strong bond with T-Kelce. Netflix’s eight-part documentary about quarterbacks’ 2022 season, Quarterback, shows Kelce’s consistent on-field backing for Mahomes. 

Kansas City superstars often motivate each other on the sidelines and in interviews. Travis’s podcast, New Heights, with his brother, Jason Kelce (former Eagles QB), reveals their friendship. At the five-minute mark in Quarterback’s Episode 6, “Under Pressure,” Jason summarizes their relationship: “Travis is a-flanking while [Patrick] is running and gunning.”

This formidable combo drives Kansas City’s success. Besides, Chiefs’ defensive tackle Chris Jones‘ contract extension boosts the team’s prospects of a historic three-peat. Jones enjoys the franchise’s offseason chemistry, praising OTAs and minicamps’ upbeat spirit and healthy competition. The “king and queen” momentum is surely undefeatable, but is it good enough to be the best TE-QB combo?

Kelce snubs himself and QB Mahomes in All-time TE-QB Ranking

Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes ranked the greatest TE-QB combos of all time last year. The Chiefs’ tight end, however, declined to include Mahomes and himself on the list. But why? Both Kelce and Mahomes earned the reputation as the top TE-QB combination. 

Crowning Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski the ultimate duo, Kelce announced on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” show that his combination with Mahomes is nothing compared to them. He placed Philip Rivers and Anthony Gates at number two. Kelce questioned, “Have you guys ever diagnosed Phillip Rivers and Antonio Gates? They were unstoppable!” Alongside John Elway and Shannon Sharpe in the third place.  

This surprising exclusion of his own formidable TE-QB combo with Mahomes leaves fans wondering: Does Kelce value history above current dominance, or is there another reason for this unexpected snub? Time will tell. But one thing’s certain: the “king and queen” are ready to write another chapter in their championship story.