KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Kelce spent the offseason traveling the world, following his girlfriend, pop superstar Taylor Swift, to multiple stops on her Eras Tour. He appeared on TV, appeared at some of the biggest sporting events in the world and continued to produce his popular podcast with his brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce.
The Chiefs tight end has never been busier. He has never had to juggle more, with more eyes on everything he does.
All of this makes the Chiefs’ practice facility, along with Arrowhead Stadium just up the hill and across the street from an expansive parking lot, a sanctuary of sorts, where Kelce can hang out with some of his closest confidantes.
“I just love football, and how it takes me away from life,” Kelce said Tuesday, two days before the Kansas Chiefs play the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of their AFC championship game and officially lift the lid on the regular season of the NFL lift.
“It gives me something that I can really be happy about,” Kelce continued. “I enjoy coming into the building, working on my craft, understanding a new game plan and perfecting it for the people around me. It gives me a purpose to go about my day and live my life. And I just have so much excitement in what I do.
Kelce indeed had an undeniable bounce in his step after Tuesday’s practice, and not just because he came through healthy; he hyperextended his knee during the same practice a year ago, causing him to miss Week 1 against Detroit.
Kelce, who turns 35 next month, has history in his sights.
He needs just three touchdown catches to pass Tony Gonzalez in the Hall of Fame for the franchise record. He needs ten receptions to pass Gonzalez for that career point. Seven touchdowns would move Kelce past Priest Holmes for the most career touchdowns in Kansas City. And he’s already the franchise leader with 11,328 yards receiving.
Then there’s the most important piece of history, at least as far as Kelce is concerned: the Chiefs are aiming for a record third straight Super Bowl title, which would give him a fourth ring in six years.
“I’ve been lucky to play as many games as I’ve played,” he said. “That’s why I enjoy going out every day, even if it’s just an exercise to work on my craft. Because not everyone achieves the same fortune in their career.”
Kelce doesn’t know when he’ll stop. He insists he likes it too much to even think about it right now. But the last few weeks alone underline how varied his off-field interests have become.
While preparing for Week 1 against Baltimore, Kelce’s representatives — along with his brother’s — finalized a three-year deal with Amazon’s Wondery, reportedly worth nine figures for the exclusive ad sales and distribution rights to their “New Heights” podcast. The deal includes the back catalog of their podcast content along with the exclusive rights to monetize and distribute audio and video episodes starting this season.
On the same day the news broke, Barry Irwin, founder and CEO of Team Valor International, announced that Kelce had recently acquired a significant stake in a three-year-old gelding named – appropriately or coincidentally – Swift Delivery.
“It’s very exciting,” Irwin told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “I met him at the Kentucky Derby and got to spend some time with him and stuff, and we talked about horses and stuff. When this horse came to light and it was already owned by one of my partners, I thought with the name this must be a no-brainer.
Kelce’s coaches and teammates — including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, one of his best friends — marvel at his ability to compartmentalize everything that happens in his life, just as they marvel at what he continues to do on the field .
Although there were times last season when it seemed like Kelce had lost a step, he still caught 93 passes for 984 yards and five touchdowns. Then came the playoffs, where he had 32 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns in just four games.
It’s hard to step away, whenever that happens, when the Chiefs remain the dominant franchise in the NFL.
“You have days off where it might be a little harder,” Kelce said, “but who doesn’t, man? Everyone has those days. But what you need to understand is that the team’s purpose is bigger than yours, and everyone needs you to be your best. And my college coach, Butch Jones, always said to me, “You’re either a fountain or a drain.” You don’t want to drain anyone.”
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AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno in Washington contributed to this report.
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