The Kansas City quarterback discusses the team’s mindset ahead of Saturday’s Divisional Round matchup against the Texans.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is no stranger to the spotlight, and as the team gears up for another playoff push, the future Hall of Famer is ready to shine again.
Fresh off the Chiefs’ first-round bye this week, Kelce joined ESPN’s ”The Pat McAfee Show,” cleverly noting he’s “feeling 22 all over again,” a playful nod to his popstar girlfriend.
For Kelce, the postseason brings out his best. The heightened intensity, the win-or-go-home stakes and the elite level of competition elevate his game. The veteran tight end thrives in these moments, embracing the challenge no matter the opponent.
“I’ve never really given it much thought in terms of who we should play or who I want to play,” Kelce told McAfee. “I just want whoever we got to give us their best effort. I love going up against the best and that challenge week in and week out. So, I know we’re going to get Houston’s best. That’s a hell of a football team.”
As the Chiefs aim for a potential Super Bowl three-peat, Kelce’s focused mindset resonates throughout the team, especially with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“I think the greats step up in the playoffs,” Mahomes said when asked about Kelce’s postseason mentality. “It’s just higher intensity. The best players and the best leaders step up and make the best plays, and he’s done that. I expect the same from him going into these playoffs. I think his mentality that he steps on the football field with at practice and on game day resonates with the entire team and gets everybody to play their best football. That’s what it takes in order to win championships.”
Kelce’s leadership and selflessness have defined his illustrious career, even in a statistically modest year by his lofty standards. In his 12th season, the 35-year-old recorded 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns (both career lows). However, personal milestones have taken a backseat to Kelce’s team success in recent years.
Last season, needing just 16 yards to secure his eighth consecutive 1,000-yard season, Kelce decided to sit out the regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers to prioritize his health for the playoffs.
The move set the tone for the Chiefs’ postseason run and exemplified his team-first approach.
“I think it meant a lot to the team that he put the team above himself in that moment,” Mahomes explained. “I mean, he obviously could’ve got 1,000 yards pretty quickly there, and all of us wanted him to get 1,000 yards. He said, ‘That’s not my goal, my goal is to win a Super Bowl,’ and I think guys took that and they ran with it. Then, obviously, he stepped up his play and made a lot of big-time plays, and it worked out for the best.”
While Mahomes admitted he wanted Kelce to hit the milestone, he acknowledged the inspiration Kelce provided by focusing on the bigger picture. As the Chiefs prepare for their next postseason test against the Houston Texans this Saturday, expect the tone to be set by their dynamic quarterback-tight end duo that looks to once again lead the team to another championship.
“I still wanted him to get it (1,000 yards); I’m going to be honest with you,” smiled Mahomes. “I think it just inspired the team. I think he kind of has the heart of a champion, and I think that inspires everybody. When your leaders and your Hall of Fame guys are doing that, I think everybody knows that they have to put it all on the line.”