Travis Kelce Opens Up on Chiefs’ Struggles, Missed Playoffs, and His Bond with Mahomes
It’s been a tough season in Kansas City - and no one’s feeling that more than Travis Kelce.
After a decade of dominance, the Chiefs have officially been knocked out of playoff contention for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. Their Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers sealed the deal, and with it came a wave of reflection from one of the franchise’s most iconic players.
Kelce, who last topped 1,000 receiving yards back in 2022, hasn’t looked quite like himself this season. Through 15 games, the All-Pro tight end has posted 803 receiving yards and five touchdowns - numbers that, while solid by most standards, fall short of the elite production we’ve come to expect from No.
- Last season, even with the team reaching Super Bowl LIX, Kelce’s regular season numbers dipped to 823 yards and three touchdowns.
This year, the slide continued, and so did the team’s.
In a candid interview with fellow Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez, Kelce didn’t shy away from the hard truths. He owned up to the team’s underperformance and took personal accountability for the way things unraveled.
“We’ve got unbelievable people and people with great integrity in the building,” Kelce said. “So it makes it a little bit easier to finish out this year knowing the kind of people we have.
But it’s frustrating, man. I feel like I can’t even look my guy, Coach Andy Reid, in his eyes right now, just because I feel like I disappointed or let him down in some way throughout the year.”
That’s not just lip service - that’s a veteran leader grappling with a rare moment of failure in what’s been a golden era for Kansas City football. Since Mahomes took over as starter in 2018, the Chiefs have been perennial contenders, racking up division titles, conference championships, and Super Bowl rings. The idea of a January without them feels almost surreal.
Kelce’s frustration wasn’t just about the numbers or the standings. It was about the standard - the one he holds himself to, and the one that’s been set in Kansas City over the past seven seasons.
“I just feel like it’s my job to go out there and make it happen,” he said. “That’s the pride I’ve always played with, especially playing for [Coach Reid], knowing how hard he works and how prepared he always is.”
The Chiefs currently sit third in the AFC West at 6-9, riding a four-game losing streak. It’s a position they haven’t been in for a long time - and it’s clear it’s not sitting well with their locker room leaders.
But as the conversation with Gonzalez shifted from the season’s struggles to what lies ahead, Kelce opened up about something deeper: his bond with Patrick Mahomes.
The two have been linked since Mahomes became the starter in 2017, forming one of the most dynamic quarterback-tight end duos the league has ever seen. And while this season may have taken a toll on the field, off the field, their connection remains unshakable.
“He’s family now,” Kelce said. “I think through all the hard work and all the family time we’ve had outside the facility and outside the building, there’ll definitely never be a goodbye to him. It’ll just be like another day in the life with Paty Mahomes.”
That’s a powerful sentiment, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding Mahomes’ status after a torn ACL ended his season in Week 15. Before the injury, Mahomes had thrown for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in his ninth year with the team - a season that, like Kelce’s, didn’t quite match the lofty standards he’s set in years past.
Still, the respect and admiration between the two stars is unmistakable. And while this season didn’t end the way they wanted, it’s clear that the foundation of their partnership - built on trust, work ethic, and shared success - remains as strong as ever.
The Chiefs may be out of the playoff picture for now, but don’t mistake this for the end of an era. If anything, it’s a pause - one that might just fuel the fire for what comes next.