Travis Kelce turned back the clock Sunday night, hauling in nine catches on 11 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown as the Kansas City Chiefs edged the Indianapolis Colts 33-30 in overtime, improving to 2-0 on the season.
It was Kelce’s first 100-yard regular-season receiving game since Nov. 4, 2024, against the Houston Texans. He also topped 100 yards in the playoffs against Houston on Jan. 18, 2025.
At 36, Kelce has acknowledged he doesn’t move like he did a decade ago. But Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters Monday that the tight end’s strong start to the season is the product of serious offseason work — with maybe a little extra motivation from his wife, pop star Taylor Swift.
“Trav worked his tail off,” Reid said. “That’s the bottom line, and I think he probably said it after the game somewhere there that the amount of work he put in. He likes his surrounding cast, that’s around him too, which sure helps as just an extra challenge there to make sure that you’re up there and competing and doing your part with that other group.”
“So, he takes a lot of pride in that, but I know … everybody questioned with the wedding and all that. Would he be out of shape and honeymooning the whole time and all that? But he works his rear end off and I think Taylor, you’re putting on four-hour shows, you’ve got to work hard, too. So, I’m sure she kicks him in the butt a little bit there, too.”
Reid said Kelce zeroed in on specific areas of his physical conditioning during the offseason.
“He’s really focused in on his body strength and his glutes and everything where you develop all the power and speed and maintain it and he’s done a good job in those areas, where he’s been able to maintain good explosiveness,” Reid said.
Swift has attended both of the Chiefs’ games this season. During Sunday’s win over the Colts, she showed off her wedding ring to the crowd and shouted, “That’s my husband,” after Kelce’s touchdown.
The Chiefs will look to carry the momentum from their 2-0 start into the coming weeks as Kelce continues to defy expectations for a tight end in his mid-30s.
