Don't let Travis Kelce's drops taint his legacy as an all-time great

Sunday night, Travis Kelce, the great Kansas City Chiefs tight end, had a game to forget. Late in the fourth quarter, Kelce dropped two passes when the Chiefs were trying to catch up to the Houston Texans. 

The second drop, in which Kelce batted the ball up into the air slightly, was intercepted, ending any chance Kansas City had for a comeback. 

Excluding the drops, it was still Kelce's least productive game of the season and one of the worst in his incredible career. He was targeted five times but hauled in only one ball for eight yards. No one feels worse about what happened at the end of this game than Kelce does. 

As great as he is, drops have always been an issue for Kelce. Since Pro Football Reference started tracking drops in 2018, Kelce has 53 dropped passes, including 10 in 2021. He's also had 23 of his targets result in interceptions.

In week two, against the Eagles, Kelce had a pass go off his hands on a pass on the goal line. He batted it into the air, and Philadelphia picked it off and returned 41 yards. Instead of the Chiefs going up 17-13, the Eagles capitalized on the turnover by scoring a touchdown on the ensuing drive and won the game, 20-17. 

His drops are not new, and they've been costly in the past. Still, this issue should not taint Kelce's legacy as one of the greatest tight ends to ever play the game. 

Travis Kelce's accomplishments speak for themselves

He's a 10-time Pro Bowler and a four-time first-team All-Pro. He's third among tight ends in receiving yards with 12,878, trailing Jason Witten by only 168 for second and Tony Gonzalez. Furthermore, he's only behind Gonzalez in receptions by a tight end with 1,064.

He's also the all-time leader in postseason catches with 178 and second only to Jerry Rice in postseason yards and touchdowns. 

No, Kelce's career is not ending as he would have liked. After appearing in seven straight AFC championship games, five out of the last six Super Bowls, and winning three Super Bowls, it's likely the Chiefs will miss the playoffs completely this year. 

With only four games left, Kelce is on track for one of his worst seasons, if not THE worst. At 36 years old, he'll likely retire after this season. How he's played this season will certainly play into his decision. 

Despite the drops, the failings of the Chiefs, and his age, Kelce is still one of the most productive tight ends in the game. He's second in receiving yards (727), fifth in catches (60), tied for sixth in touchdowns (5) and third in yards after catch (385). 

Despite his ranking among his fellow tight ends, he is not playing up to his standards. That says a lot. His legacy in the game is so strong that still being a top-five tight end isn't good enough. He looks like a shadow of his former self. 

When he retires, don't hold his drops against him. Be glad you got to watch him play.