Travis Kelce has opened the season looking like his old self, and the early returns have only added to the noise around the Chiefs tight end’s preparation. Through two games, the 36-year-old has been productive, and Kansas City has started 2-0 after a pair of wins in which Kelce played a major role.
On Monday, Andy Reid went on KSHB 41 News and made it clear he’s impressed with what he’s seeing from Kelce. The Chiefs coach said the veteran tight end has put in the work, while also pointing to Taylor Swift as part of the push behind it.
"Trav worked his tail off," Reid said. "I mean, that's the bottom line. He probably said it after the game somewhere there that the amount of work he put in, he likes his surrounding cast around him too, which sure helps as just an extra challenge there to make sure that you're up there and competing and doing your part with that other group.
"So, he takes a lot of pride in it. Everybody questioned with the wedding and all of that, would he be out of shape and honeymooning (during the offseason) the whole time and all of that.
He works his rear end off. And I think Taylor, you're putting on four-hour shows, you've got to work hard too.
So I'm sure she kicks him in the b**t a little there too."
Kelce and Swift began dating in 2023. The couple got married earlier this year in July at Madison Square Garden in New York after their engagement in Aug. 2025.
Kelce’s play has backed up the praise. In the season opener against the Denver Broncos, he had 71 yards on three catches in a 31-10 Chiefs win. Then on Sunday against the Colts, he found the end zone for the first time this season and finished with 101 yards on nine receptions as Kansas City pulled out a 33-30 overtime victory at home.
The buzz around Kelce’s shape and sharpness didn’t stop with Reid. On Monday, former three-time Super Bowl champion Michael Irvin appeared on "The Pat McAfee Show" and said Swift deserves some credit for how good Kelce looks early on.
" Travis Kelce has been sleeping, he's been eating right, he's structured, and he looks younger this year than he ever looked the last two years,” Irvin said.
“Right now, after he's got married. So Taylor Swift, you're doing OK.
Good thing, girl. Great thing for ball.
Great thing for the Chiefs."
Kansas City’s next game is set for Sept. 27 against the Miami Dolphins. Kelce will be trying to keep this start rolling as the Chiefs chase another Super Bowl run after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2014.
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