As the Kansas City Chiefs celebrate yet another Super Bowl run, one of the franchise’s cornerstones is quietly approaching the twilight of his career. Travis Kelce, the heart and soul of the Chiefs’ offense for over a decade, is 36 now. And while the wear and tear of time is starting to show, there’s no questioning the legacy he’s built - or the respect he commands across the league.
Kelce’s production may not be what it once was, but that’s par for the course when you’ve logged the kind of mileage he has at one of football’s most physically demanding positions. Still, even as his numbers dip, his impact remains undeniable. Kelce isn’t just a tight end - he’s a cultural figure in Kansas City and an all-time great in NFL history.
And it’s not just Chiefs fans who see it that way. Trey McBride, the Arizona Cardinals’ rising star at tight end, recently gave Kelce the kind of endorsement that carries real weight - especially coming from a player who’s already making a strong case to be the next big thing at the position.
McBride, who broke the single-season receptions record for a tight end in 2025 with 126 catches and earned his first All-Pro selection, was asked to name his personal Mount Rushmore of tight ends. His answer? A who’s who of legends - Tony Gonzalez, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Shannon Sharpe, and Rob Gronkowski.
Yes, that’s five names for four spots - but when you’re talking about a position as deep and decorated as tight end, it’s hard to keep the list short. And the fact that Kelce came up right after Gonzalez, another Chiefs icon, speaks volumes.
McBride’s inclusion of Kelce wasn’t just a casual nod. It was a statement from one of the league’s top young talents, someone who’s already showing signs of elite-level production and consistency. When a player like that singles you out as one of the best to ever do it, it’s more than just flattery - it’s validation.
For Chiefs Kingdom, that’s just another reminder of what they’ve had in Kelce all these years: a player who redefined the tight end role, brought unmatched chemistry with Patrick Mahomes, and delivered in the biggest moments time and time again.
As for what’s next, Kelce is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career. Naturally, that’s sparked some speculation about whether he might finally decide to walk away from the game. But for now, all signs suggest he’s gearing up for a 14th season - and if we’ve learned anything about Kelce, it’s that he’s not one to go quietly.
Whether or not 2026 is his final chapter, the book on Travis Kelce is already a classic. And with peers like McBride giving him his flowers, the legacy only grows stronger.