Travis Kelce is pacing to do things that have never been done in the history of the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce woke up on Monday morning as the NFL’s receiving leader through Week 14.
It’s a significant achievement for the eighth-year pro because that’s never happened for a player at the tight end position before. With three games left to go, Kelce is pacing to make some more significant NFL history. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke about his performance up to this point of the season after the game against the Dolphins.
“He’s done a nice job,” Reid said. “Like any game, there are things that he can do better, but I mean let’s not slight him, he’s done great and he’s loving every minute of it. He and the quarterback have a good relationship. They’re working it together, they have a lot of trust in each other.”
That trust has helped Kelce achieve 1,250 receiving yards, which leads the rest of the league by 70 yards. He needs just 128 yards to beat the single-season receiving record by a tight end, set by George Kittle back in 2018 (1,377). Kelce previously held that record for a few hours before Kittle surpassed him.
Right now, Kelce’s on pace to exceed 1,500 receiving yards on the year. If he keeps his current pace through the next three weeks, he could become the first tight end to ever to lead the NFL in receiving yards. That’d be a historic achievement and add to a campaign shaping up to be worthy of Offensive Player of the Year honors. If he were to win that award, he’d also make history as no tight end has ever won the award.
Chiefs CEO and Chairman Clark Hunt also had a chance to speak about the season that Kelce’s having after Week 14. While he’s elated for the success on the field, the thing that continues to impress him most is Kelce’s growth off the field. It’s one of the reasons he was chosen to be the Chiefs’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
“First of all, congratulations to the year that he’s having, his success on the field,” Hunt said following the game. “Over a thousand yards again— on pace to break a bunch of records, getting that nod from Madden as a 99, tremendous accomplishment by him and he’s such an important part of the offense and the success that we have had, really, for all five years that we have won the division. But probably what I’m most impressed by has been his growth off the field. He’s a leader in the locker room, but he’s also a leader in the community, committed to making a difference in communities in Kansas City and Ohio for underprivileged families, underprivileged children; and I’m just so proud of everything that he’s accomplished in that regard and everything that he’s doing. He’s a very deserving nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.”
Shifting back to Kelce’s record-breaking statistical year, he’ll also come close to breaking the NFL record for receptions by a tight end. He currently has 90 receptions on the year and needs just 24 more to exceed the record set by Eagles TE Zach Ertz in 2019. He’s averaging around 6.5 receptions per game this season, but he’s averaged eight or more receptions per game since Week 8.
To add a little more context to Kelce’s year, the next closest player in terms of receiving yards and receptions at the tight end position is Raiders TE Darren Waller. He has six fewer receptions on the season, but only 817 yards on the year.
Kelce is truly proving to be one-of-one in the NFL at the tight end position. He’s on his way to having the best season the position has ever seen, but he doesn’t want any of the glory yet. Just like the rest of the team, he knows that job isn’t done.
“[I’m] trying to take advantage of the opportunity that I have here in Kansas City every single day both on and off the field,” Kelce said. “That’s my goal.”
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