Travis Kelce eclipsed Tony Gonzalez’s record for most receptions in a single season for the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday against Oakland.
Travis Kelce needs no introduction as arguably the best tight end in the National Football League. Yet the perennial Pro Bowler has taken his game to new heights with Patrick Mahomes under center, and he’s now the proud record holder of the Kansas City Chiefs single-season mark for most receptions.
Tony Gonzalez has completely owned this category for the Chiefs ever since his playing days, landing the top four spots on the list including the former record of 102 receptions in a single year, set back in 2004. In fact, before Travis Kelce in 2018, no Chiefs receiver or tight end in history had ever eclipsed 88 receptions other than Gonzalez, who has done so four times.
Kelce set the record with his fifth catch of the game, a 20-yard catch from Patrick Mahomes. The mark moved him to 103 receptions on the year, an incredible stat that shows his dependability as a threat no matter who the Chiefs are playing week to week.
Kelce was the third round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2013 and was forced to miss entire rookie season due to a preseason injury. Fortunately, he’s more than made up for lost time ever since by turning into the sort of threat that tight ends rarely become, a primary target that creates mismatches against every defense because of his rare blend of hands, size, strength, and athleticism.
Kelce will be heading to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl this postseason and this was his third consecutive season with over 1,000 yards in a row—joining Greg Olsen as the only tight ends in NFL history to do so.