Travis Kelce is redefining success at the tight end position

Travis Kelce needs to be considered in any conversation for the greatest tight end in NFL history from now on.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce once again did something that no other player in NFL history has accomplished at his position when he eclipsed the 1,000 receiving yard mark for the fifth consecutive season. Even after such prolific production, Kelce looks as if he could put several more seasons just like this.

Let’s see how great Kelce has been since arriving in Kansas City.

The Chiefs knew they were in need of a playmaker going into the 2013 NFL Draft. They drafted Travis Kelce out of Cincinnati and what a selection that has been. Ever since Kelce has gotten to Kansas City, he has proven himself as a dynamic playmaker for the offense year after year.

Outside of a rookie season lost to a preseason injury, Kelce hasn’t had a season under 860 receiving yards. That means Kelce’s worst statistical season is more than Hunter Henry, Kyle Rudolph, Mark Andrews, Austin Hooper, Evan Engram, Jack Doyle, or O.J. Howard have ever put up in a single season.

Now in his prime, Kelce’s past four seasons have set new NFL records for excellence. Over that four-season span, the Chiefs tight end has outproduced every other tight end in the NFL by 12 receptions, 1,009 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns. The gap in yardage as we know is a career season for most tight ends, but seeing those numbers in context is eye-popping.

Kelce was already considered around the league as one of the best at the position even before quarterback Patrick Mahomes arrived, but since the Chiefs transitioned from Alex Smith, Kelce has directly benefited. Combine the dynamic playmaking ability of Mahomes and the excellent route running of Travis Kelce, and you have a duo unlike most.

Kelce has had his best two receiving seasons by yardage the last two years and is on pace to shatter all his career best totals in 2020. He is currently on pace for 109 receptions, 1,485 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns which would all be career bests. He has a really good shot this year to be Offensive Player of the Year, and I wouldn’t be surprised, given his pace, if he ended up winning the award. Someone else happens to agree.

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Kelce shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon either. The best part for Chiefs Kingdom is that he is signed through the 2026 season. Kelce will continue to produce while Mahomes and Reid are in town, which ensures he will retire as one of the best to ever play the game. But as we all know, he should be in that conversation already.

Did I mention that the best part about Kelce is the guy just cares about winning? When asked about being the first TE in NFL history with five 1,000 yard receiving seasons, Kelce said, “It is something cool to hang the hat on at the end of the career, but right now I’m just focused on the task at hand and that is winning football games”. He also went on to credit the other 10 guys he plays every snap with on offense. That is just the kind of selfless guy every football team wants and needs. It just so happens that the same guy is also the best TE in the NFL.

Chiefs fans have been absolutely spoiled at the tight end position considering the greatest in NFL history, Tony Gonzalez, wore a K.C. uniform for the majority of his career. Another NFL great is now right on his coattails, which is something you can’t take for granted. Travis Kelce is right now the best TE in the NFL and will have that title for some time to come. We just have to make sure to not take it for granted while we get to see him lace it up every Sunday.