Travis Kelce proved that the speculation about his decline was premature during a recent game, where he not only excelled but also became the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time leader in receptions. In a hard-fought 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Kelce recorded seven catches for 89 yards, surpassing Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez’s record with his second reception.
Following the match, Kelce opted not to address the media. Despite a slow start to the season, with just eight catches for 69 yards in his first three games, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid remained unfazed, stating, “I really don’t care what anybody thinks… I watch what the defense does and how they respect him.”
Support for Kelce was evident, as the Chiefs’ wide receivers donned custom T-shirts featuring his name during warmups. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes acknowledged that the extra defensive attention on Kelce wasn’t a source of concern for him, reinforcing, “I know whatever we need, he’s going to make plays.”
Kelce reached a milestone on his third catch of the opening drive, tying Gonzalez’s record of 916 receptions. He then broke the record with a 5-yard catch later in the game, bringing his total to 922 receptions.
Reid praised Kelce for his performance, noting that he effectively navigated both zone and man defenses. Though Taylor Swift was not present at SoFi Stadium to witness his achievement, Kelce remains a significant force in the league, ranking fourth in NFL history among tight ends for receptions.
With fellow receiver Rashee Rice now sidelined due to a knee injury, Kelce may need to take on an even larger role in the offense. Mahomes mentioned the need for Kelce to increase his catch volume as the team adjusts to the change in personnel.
As Kelce approaches his 35th birthday, he is also on track to break more records, sitting just three touchdown receptions behind Gonzalez and seven behind Priest Holmes for the most total touchdowns in franchise history.