Chiefs' Travis Kelce: ‘I Failed Final Yr in a Lot of Totally different Methods for My Guys’

Henry McKenna

NFL Reporter

Travis Kelce made his tenth Professional Bowl and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs made yet one more Tremendous Bowl look final season, but he spent a lot of his latest podcast look on “Bussin With The Boys” discussing all of the issues he did flawed in 2024.

“I failed final 12 months in loads of alternative ways for my guys on the sector, by way of being a frontrunner and simply being ready and able to rock,” Kelce mentioned. “And I’m motivated to f—ing be accountable.”

The Chiefs had a tumultuous season, which included 11 one-possession victories however a 40-22 blowout loss to the Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LIX. The Kansas Metropolis offense ranked seventeenth in whole yards and fifteenth in factors per sport — far off the torrid tempo from the start of the staff’s dynasty. And Kelce’s numbers have equally declined. His 823 receiving yards final season mark solely his second time under 1,000 over the previous 9 years. Within the Tremendous Bowl, he had 4 catches on six targets for 39 yards.

Kelce’s frustrations with himself sounded layered.

“I do not assume I used to be the perfect chief throughout the Tremendous Bowl itself by way of making performs, having the ability to discover a means it doesn’t matter what the protection was taking part in. I’ve all the time put the accountability on myself to get open it doesn’t matter what,” Kelce mentioned. “I had a drop early. I had two or three routes the place I did not get separation after I wanted to, and [there were] sure moments the place I may have sped it up realizing that Pat [Patrick Mahomes] was beneath duress for lots of factors within the sport.”

He added: “After which simply retaining the vitality and the idea alive — I do not know if I essentially did that in addition to I may have. And I believe simply main as much as it, ensuring I obtained all people’s mentality prepared going into the sport.”

Kelce’s reflections on the 12 months included the 2023 offseason that he spent jet-setting around the globe with girlfriend Taylor Swift. Kelce’s celeb standing had been constructing progressively, which was pure given he now has 5 Tremendous Bowl appearances in six years. From discuss present appearances to commercials to performing roles, Kelce has achieved his justifiable share of exploring non-football actions. And the 2023 offseason was his busiest, not shocking for somebody courting one of many greatest celebrities on this planet.

“The largest factor is, you simply form of refocus on the place your consideration is within the offseason,” Kelce mentioned on the “Bussin With The Boys” podcast this month. “I believe final 12 months that — actually the previous three years — I’ve had loads of consideration in taking a step away from soccer to determine what I’m doing afterwards, and ensure I set that up, and I’m setting myself up for the longer term. I’ve form of all the time had that mentality within the offseason, however I took on larger tasks this 12 months.

“I do not need to go away something on the market. I need to give it my all and ensure that I do that for the childhood dream in me — the child in me that is like, ‘Man, I need to make this s— the perfect factor ever.’”

The Chiefs is not going to be out of Tremendous Bowl competition in 2025. Their teaching workers hasn’t modified. Their protection is much like final 12 months’s unit — although not the identical with out security Justin Reid or DT Tershawn Wharton. And the offense, if everyone seems to be wholesome this season, ought to enhance. Receiver Rashee Rice is getting back from a knee harm, Xavier Worthy is coming into his second 12 months, and Hollywood Brown is coming into his second 12 months within the Chiefs’ system.

One main motive Kelce is returning for a thirteenth season is that he did not need the Tremendous Bowl loss to be his final sport. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas Metropolis Star/Tribune Information Service through Getty Photos)

As for Kelce, who’s coming into his age-36 season, he’s prepared to confess that he’s not an ascending participant anymore.

“As I am getting older, I am unable to essentially do loads of the issues that I have been capable of do after I was a youthful participant,” he mentioned. “So it is creating much more frustration for me, in sure occasions.”

His manufacturing has declined over the previous three seasons. It appears Kelce is making an attempt to fend off continued decline, partly with a give attention to method. He has misplaced weight — although he wouldn’t specify how a lot.

Even with these changes, his age is catching up with him. And his contract expires within the coming offseason. There have been rumblings that Kelce may retire after Tremendous Bowl LIX. And there will likely be extra rumblings that this 12 months will likely be his final.

“I believe I simply had a bitter style in my mouth instantly [after the Super Bowl], and like, ‘Man, this cannot be the final sport,'” he mentioned.

So Kelce is again — and with a way of urgency and self-evaluation that maybe he did not have final 12 months.

Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.

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