Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid believes Travis Kelce had his worst statistical season of his career, outside of his rookie year where he barely saw the field due to injuries of his teammates.
Kelce is one of the best tight ends in football yet regressed in every major category in 2024 amid speculation that his romance with Taylor Swift is moving his attention elsewhere.
Kelce did have a team-high 97 catches last season, and the mot receiving yards with 823. Yet, he had more disappointing performances than transformative ones.
The 35-year-old only had three touchdowns on the season, as the Patrick Mahomes-led offense had to find other ways to get into the end zone.
‘He’s willing. He’s learning when to come out, so he’ll get himself out of the game when he needs it. And I think that’ll just continue with age,’ Reid said at the NFL owners’ meetings on Monday.
‘I didn’t think that was an issue this year, but I thought we were banged up at the outside positions and that doesn’t help a tight end’s cause at all.’
‘I just think the healthier we can be around him – he can still be productive.’
The Chiefs were rarely 100 percent healthy at the same time. Hollywood Brown had a shoulder injury that caused him to make his Kansas City debut in Week 16.
Rashee Rice went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Running back Isiah Pacheco did not have the same elite form after coming back from a Week 2 injury.
Having the most creative quarterback in the league did not help Kelce last season, with the duo nearly unstoppable prior to 2024.
Now, with Swift still on his arm and expectations still at a high, Kelce will look to buck his new trend next season.
