Travis Kelce has spent training camp in Kansas City with a lighter mood, but he’s not treating last season like it’s in the rearview mirror just yet.
The Chiefs tight end said after Wednesday’s practice that he wants to sharpen his game and be more dependable when the ball is in the air. He also pointed to his role as a leader, saying, “Been more accountable when the ball is in the air.
… Being a better leader,” Kelce said. “I want to be one of those guys that everybody counts on.”
Travis Kelce said he put a couple of games last year on himself and is bothered he didn’t play at a higher level. pic.twitter.com/Rue6DzAA1T
— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) August 12, 2026
That message fits the tone around Kelce as he heads into his 14th NFL season. After retirement speculation followed him through the offseason, he announced in March that he was coming back to Kansas City. It’s another chapter in a Hall of Fame career, but one he’s approaching with some unfinished business.
Last season wasn’t short on production. Kelce played all 17 games and posted 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns. Even so, there were too many moments where things slipped away from him, including dropped passes and other execution mistakes.
One of the most glaring came against the Houston Texans on Dec. 7, when he dropped a pass in the fourth quarter. Kansas City went on to lose that game 20-10, and the season only got worse from there as the Chiefs finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs.
Now Kelce is back at camp, married to Taylor Swift after the two wed in a private ceremony at Madison Square Garden on July 3, and looking to help steer the Chiefs back toward prominence.
In Other News...
Chiefs Pass Rush Question Just Took An Unexpected Cameron Jordan Turn
Cameron Jordans return to New Orleans had been one of the more notable veteran decisions of the offseason, especially after he turned in a 10.5-sack season and chose to re-sign with the Saints. For teams watching the pass-rush market, including the Chiefs, it was the kind of move that immediately shifted the conversation from a possible fit to a player who was staying put and still capable of making an impact.
Now the picture has changed again with Jordan dealing with a hamstring injury that could affect the opening stretch of 2026. Saints head coach Kellen Moore said the issue might even carry into the season, which adds another layer to a pass-rush discussion Kansas City has already had to navigate through its own injury challenges. Even without Jordan in play, the Chiefs will keep looking for answers up front, but this latest twist makes the veteran edge rusher a name worth monitoring a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Right Tackle Battle Just Got More Complicated For Jaylon Moore
Jaylon Moore entered the offseason with what looked like a clear path to the Chiefs starting right tackle job after Jawaan Taylor was released, but the picture has shifted in a hurry. Kansas Citys decision to draft Josh Simmons and the rise of Kahlil Benson have turned the spot into a real competition, adding another layer to a line that already had plenty to sort out heading into camp.
Moore has handled the challenge with a positive approach, and for now he is back in the first-team mix at right tackle while Trey Smith works through a hip injury. Even so, the battle around him is still fluid, and the Chiefs appear willing to keep sorting out the best combination before settling on a final answer. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Right Tackle Battle Just Got Serious For Mahomes
Kahlil Benson has turned a camp competition that looked fairly wide open into something the Chiefs are now taking seriously. The offensive tackle, who entered as a long-shot option, has worked his way into a leading spot for the starting right tackle job in 2026 training camp, getting extensive first-team work while Kansas City continues sorting out an offensive line that was a clear issue coming out of a rough 2025 season.
Bensons rise has come at the expense of more established names in the mix, including Jaylon Moore and Esa Pole, and the Chiefs are still using padded practices to see whether his progress holds up when the sessions get more physical. For Patrick Mahomes, the position battle matters beyond camp intrigue, because the right side of the line remains one of the most important decisions left for Kansas City as it tries to stabilize the protection in front of him. [Read more 🡒]