Chiefs Make Travis Kelce Announcement During Broncos Game

Denny Medley - Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

Chiefs Make Travis Kelce Announcement During Broncos Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Sep 14, 2026 10:26 PM ET

Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs looked to open the 2026 NFL season with a win, hosting Bo Nix and AFC West rival Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 1’s edition of “Monday Night Football.” The Chiefs are coming off a poor 2025 campaign, finishing with a 6-11 record and missing out on the NFL Playoffs for the first time since Patrick Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback.

Entering the Monday night game against the Broncos, Kelce had recorded 1,080 catches for 13,002 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 191 games during his 13-year career. And the former Cincinnati Bearcats star’s 13,002 receiving yards ranked as the third most by a tight end in NFL history.

With 6:09 remaining in the third quarter, Mahomes and the Chiefs faced a 3rd-and-6 on their own 37-yard line, before he hit Kelce over the middle and he rumbled his way to a 59 yard gain, marking the tight end’s second catch. and 65th yard of the night, along with the 13,057th of his career.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) against the Arizona CardinalsMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

In doing so, Kelce has now moved past Dallas Cowboys legend Jason Witten (13,046) for the second-most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history. Witten, during his lengthy career in Dallas, totaled 1,228 catches for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns in 271 games, while Kelce played his 193rd against Denver.

Lying ahead of Kelce and Witten is former Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, who holds the NFL record for a tight end with 15,127 career receiving yards. Not only that, but Gonzalez also holds the record for most catches by a tight end with 1,325.

Ranking just behind Gonzalez, Kelce and Witten on the all-time list includes ex-Los Angeles Chargers star Antonio Gates (11,841), Denver Broncos legend Shannon Sharpe (10,060), New England Patriots Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski (9,286) and Carolina Panthers great Greg Olsen (8,683).

“Another exclamation point for @tkelce ‼️,” the Chiefs wrote on X.