Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid revealed that he has had to remove veteran tight end Travis Kelce from practices to manage his workload, even as the 36-year-old prepares for his 14th NFL season. Kelce has been intensely focused on maintaining his performance level, leading coaches to intervene to prioritize his health.
"You have examples like Kelce, he's the oldest guy on the team and came out every day and worked to where you had to yank him out of there to give him a breather," Reid told reporters. This dedication has not gone unnoticed by teammates, with linebacker Nick Bolton commenting on Kelce's work ethic.
"There's no excuses when you have the old guy out there running routes and stuff like that," Bolton said. "It's been fun to watch [Kelce] work."
Reid also acknowledged quarterback Patrick Mahomes' recovery efforts following a torn ACL, praising the two-time MVP for his rehabilitation. Overall, Reid expressed satisfaction with the team's progress during training camp.
Kelce himself has spoken about his commitment to leadership this season, aiming to be a reliable presence for the team during challenging times. "When we get stuck, with adversity hitting, who's going to want to be in that foxhole with you?" Kelce stated. "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's rigorous training regimen follows a period of significant personal events, including his marriage to Taylor Swift in early July. The ceremony, held at Madison Square Garden, was attended by numerous celebrities from entertainment and sports.
Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL season, Kelce aims to help the Chiefs improve after they missed the playoffs the previous year. Reflecting on the 2025 season, Kelce admitted there were areas where he could have performed better, but expressed readiness for the upcoming season.
"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," Kelce said.
