It's not uncommon for younger players to admire the stars they've watched for years when first joining the professional ranks. It is, however, harder to find instances of veteran players who discuss their gratitude for the ongoing ability to play alongside a legend. Such is how it feels for those around Travis Kelce.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray has been learning from Kelce since he first joined the team as a fifth-round pick out of Duke in the 2021 NFL Draft. And even after five seasons together, Gray still speaks of Kelce's presence on the roster as a "blessing".
"To be able to play alongside him still is a blessing," Gray said Wednesday when addressing the media from the Chiefs' mandatory minicamp, "and it's something I hope I never take for granted every day I step in this facility."
Gray isn't just appreciative of what Kelce brings to the field of play, which is plenty considering his first-ballot Hall of Fame resume. Gray also credited Kelce's presence as a gift to the entire locker room.
Travis Kelce continues to earn the admiration of those who know him best in the locker room.
"There's so much that he brings to the table: leadership, work ethic, just certain fundamentals on the field that he can help us with," Gray said. "He's been in this way longer than I have and most of the guys in that locker room."
Gray continued to return to that theme throughout his session with reporters on the second day of minicamp. He spoke of the value of learning from those around him, regardless of where a player falls on the depth chart.
"I love being in that tight end room. We have a lot of great times together on and off the field. They're even better dudes off it. There's a lot of things those younger guys do that are better than me. To be able to learn from those guys and have them in the room is super special."
That ability to glean something from everyone along the way is what has allowed Gray to remain an important component of the Chiefs' offense, even as a day three pick. The contract extension given to him in 2024 speaks to his value on the roster, and he's kept the same humble posture even with 96 total games of experience.
"I truly am someone that doesn't believe that anyone's perfect," he said. "You can work every day to be the best possible version of yourself. I'll retire from this league and I'll still have things to improve on. That's just the mindset I've had my entire life."
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