Travis Kelce had no problem giving Efton Chism a little guidance after the Patriots receiver pulled off a play that looked straight out of the tight end’s own bag of tricks.
On the latest episode of “New Heights,” Kelce and Jason watched Chism’s highlight from New England’s 45-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Early in the second quarter, on third-and-11, Drake Maye hit Chism on a short pass, and the wideout immediately flipped the ball to TreVeyon Henderson, who turned it into a first down.
Kelce liked the idea right away, but he also saw one detail Chism can clean up.
"I like it," Kelce said reacting to Chism's play. "Third-and-11, knowing where the ball players are, 'you guys got me but don't got him.'
Easy first. You keep it on this upfield shoulder though, bud.
You keep it on his upfield shoulder. You think you got to, like, throw it back.
But really, you just got to throw it down the line. That way you can keep him running and get him another nice head start.
"It's good stuff though. I like where this kid's head's at. He's a ball player."
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel had already made the comparison after the game, saying on “The Greg Hill Show” that Chism was “acting like Travis Kelce.”
"He's just acting like Kelce," Vrabel said. "He just makes s**t up as he goes.
Like, this is what we're gonna do now? "
While Kelce was breaking down Chism’s play, the Chiefs were coming off a Week 5 bye after opening the year 4-0. In those first four games, Kelce caught 16 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns.
The conversation also tied into a larger point Patrick Mahomes made Wednesday about how Kelce helped him learn how to build trust with teammates over time. Mahomes said that early in his career, Kelce taught him the value of constant communication, something he’s carried into his chemistry with other receivers.
"I think it started with Travis," Mahomes said. "I think that was kind of the biggest thing when I first got into the league and started starting. He always would just talk to me after every play, and then, when we got to games, I would know what he was thinking.
"Obviously, that’s kind of blossomed to what it’s blossomed to, so I try to keep that going. I’ve done it with Rashee (Rice) now.
I’ve done it with a lot of these guys that we’ve kind of been through here: we have these conversations so that, when we get in the game, we’re on the same page thinking. If we’re not, we talk about it on the sideline right after and try to be on the same page the next rep."
The Chiefs’ next game is set for Oct. 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers, with kickoff at 4:25 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Patriots May Have An O-Line Decision They Didn't Expect
The Patriots thought they were adding depth when they took Caleb Lomu out of Utah in the 2026 NFL Draft, a left tackle prospect who could handle swing duties and maybe eventually step in for Morgan Moses. Instead, the rookie has been pressed into a bigger role sooner than expected, with Will Campbell out and the line already feeling the impact of another key absence. Campbell had been playing well before getting hurt, which is what made the early look at Lomu so interesting in the first place.
Lomu made the most of his opportunity against the Raiders, enough to turn a temporary fill-in job into a real question for New England. Once Campbell is healthy enough to return, the Patriots may have a decision they did not exactly plan for at left tackle, because the rookies play has at least made the coaching staff think twice about handing the spot right back. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Belichick Hall Of Fame Tension Just Got More Frustrating
The Hall of Fame conversation around Bill Belichick has taken another turn, and it is not a particularly satisfying one for Patriots fans still waiting for clarity. Tony Dungy, a former Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, has said he believes Belichick belongs in Canton, but he has stopped short of saying how he handled the vote itself, leaving the process wrapped in the kind of mystery that tends to frustrate people already invested in the outcome.
Dungy pointed to the voting process and cited past examples of greats who did not get in right away, which only adds to the sense that this is bigger than one name on one ballot. For New England followers, Belichick's place among football's all-time coaching legends is not really in doubt, but the silence around an actual vote has kept the story alive and given fans another reason to wonder what is still being left unsaid. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Mourn A Franchise Great Who Helped Shape Their Early Years
The Patriots are mourning one of the franchises early pillars after former offensive lineman Jon Morris died at 84, the team announced. Morris spent 11 seasons in New England and became a familiar figure in the organization long before the franchise reached its modern heights, earning six AFL All-Star nods and later remaining connected to the club as a radio broadcaster.
His legacy was already secure in New England by the time he entered the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2011, a fitting recognition for a player who helped shape the teams formative years. Morris also carried a place in league history as the first Patriots player selected to the Pro Bowl after the AFL-NFL merger, another reminder of how long his impact lingered beyond his playing days. [Read more 🡒]