The Kansas City Chiefs‘ 2024-25 season didn’t end the way they wanted it to. In some ways, the same can be said for tight end Travis Kelce.
The future Hall of Fame man mustered 4 catches for 39 yards in the biggest game of the year. It wound up being a 40-22 blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, sending both Kelce and his team back to the drawing board with revenge on their minds.
Fortunately for Kansas City, this version of Kelce might be an improvement over last year’s. If you ask his father, Ed Kelce, it’ll somehow be one of the best ever.
Chiefs Fans Will Love Ed Kelce’s Prediction for Travis Kelce’s 2025
On August 24, Kelce appeared on the red carpet event for the Chiefs‘ ESPN original documentary, “The Kingdom.” When asked about his son, he proclaimed that the younger Kelce would turn in one of his personal best performances.
“I’ll give you a prediction here,” Kelce began. “I think you’re going to see one of the best seasons Travis has ever had. Travis is in incredible shape. I watched him down in Boca [Raton] when he was working out. The workouts were as much plyometrics and box jumping and cone drills and all of that stuff as much as it was with the weights. Travis is ready to go. I’m excited about that.”
To say that’s bold would be an understatement. After all, Kelce has reached heights that very few tight ends can even dream of. His 2018 season, for instance, featured 103 receptions for 1,336 yards and 10 touchdowns. Just two years later, he upped the ante to respective totals of 105, 1,416 and 11. Fast forward two more seasons, and he logged a career-high 110 grabs and 12 scores to go with 1,338 yards.
It’s been a steady decline since that excellent 2022 campaign, however. In 2023, he failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the first time since 2015. He also had just 5 touchdowns. Last season, despite hauling in four more passes, he had 823 yards and 3 touchdowns. Both of those are career-low figures for a full season.
Kelce has reportedly dropped weight and gotten in better shape. He’s fresh off a success in what could have been his final Chiefs training camp. That very well may lead to year-over-year improvements but given that his 36th birthday is rapidly approaching, reaching peak form again seems very far-fetched.
How Does Kansas City’s Assortment of Pass Catchers Stack Up?
That doesn’t mean Kelce can’t still be a massive fixture of the Chiefs‘ passing attack, though. He’s the most trusted target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, even in diminished athletic form. At the tight end position, specifically, Noah Gray is coming off a career year but still didn’t hold a candle to Kelce’s production. That hierarchy is clearly separated in regards to tiers.
It’s expected that the return of wideout Rashee Rice will also take some pressure off Kelce. In three games prior to suffering a season-ending knee injury last year, Rice caught 24 passes for 288 yards. A suspension at some point projects to alter his availability but when it matters most, he should be on the field for Kansas City.
Mahomes, Kelce and Co. will also benefit from an improved supporting cast. Not only is 2024 first-round pick Xavier Worthy now an offseason wiser, but Marquise “Hollywood” Brown isn’t attempting to get acclimated during the year. He’s been (mostly) healthy this offseason and adds another dynamic threat to the offense.
That’s without even considering JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s return, the addition of rookie Jalen Royals or the July-August breakout of Tyquan Thornton. Health willing, this version of the Chiefs’ attack has a favorable outlook.
The same can be said for their superstar tight end, as his father sets the bar sky-high.
Travis Kelce’s Dad Drops Logic-Defying Prediction for His Season