Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is reportedly finished as an elite player in the NFL following a demanding offseason, according to an NFL insider.
The 36-year-old veteran enters his 14th season with the Chiefs, who are preparing for their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. However, NFL insider Jason La Canfora, citing league scouts, has suggested that Kelce's top-level performance has concluded.
"Kelce is done. That's over. What you saw last year, that's what he is," a scout reportedly told Canfora, as relayed by Casino Guru News.
This assessment follows a summer that included Kelce's marriage to pop superstar Taylor Swift in a private ceremony at Madison Square Garden on July 3. Social media users had previously commented on Kelce's physique, with some claiming he returned to Chiefs practice with a "dad bod."
Last season, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, a performance Kelce acknowledged he partly influenced. "Just being a better leader," Kelce stated when asked about areas for improvement. "When we get stuck, with adversity hitting, who's going to want you in that foxhole with you? That's one of those things, I want to be one of those guys that everybody counts on to be there and get us out of that foxhole."
Kelce expressed readiness for the upcoming season, stating, "I feel ready to rock and roll. Just trying to make sure I set that example for the guys around me, that this is the standard."
Reflecting on his recent wedding, Kelce described it as "the best night of my life" and a "crazy night full of a lot of celebration." He also shared his experience of getting married at Madison Square Garden, calling it a "childhood dream" and expressing gratitude to the venue's owners for facilitating the private event.