Chiefs GM promises Travis Kelce isn't slowing down

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 4/30/24

The Kansas City Chiefs believe 34-year-old tight end Travis Kelce has plenty of gas left in the tank.

On Monday, the Chiefs gave Kelce a new two-year, $34.25M deal, making him the highest-paid tight end in the league. After announcing the contract, Kansas City general manager Brett Veach insisted the nine-time Pro Bowler isn't slowing down.

"Every now and then, you have one of these guys that are outliers — and certainly Travis is one of those players," Veach told the media. "It's funny, it's not even May yet, and today, we had a chance to get out there in phase two and guys were out there running around. Travis was the first guy in line, and he looked like he was 28-years-old."

Kelce turns 35 in October, and history suggests his numbers will dip. Kevin Patra of nfl.com pointed out Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez and former Chargers star Antonio Gates never surpassed 1,000 receiving yards after they turned 35.

In 15 games last season, Kelce had 93 receptions for 984 yards — the third-lowest mark of his career — and five touchdown catches. In the playoffs, however, he rebounded with 32 receptions (a career high in the postseason) for 355 yards and three touchdown catches.

"Again, the odds of someone playing this far into their 30s is very low," Veach said, "but it does happen, and it happens with unicorns in the profession, and Travis is one of those ... Everyone notices the kind of postseason he had; he just found an extra gear. These special players are always able to find that extra gear, and again, if anybody can do it, Travis can."

The Chiefs have upgraded their receiving corps this offseason, signing wide receiver Marquise Brown to a one-year, $7M deal and drafting Texas' Xavier Worthy with pick No. 28 and TCU tight end Jared Wiley with No. 131. This will take some pressure off of Kelce.

Regardless, the organization still feels Kelce is one of its best players and could help it become the first team to three-peat as champions in the Super Bowl era.

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