Key Takeaways
- Travis Kelce called Patrick Mahomes a “fearless leader” after the quarterback returned from an apparent throwing-elbow injury to help the Chiefs beat the Jets 35–12.
- Kelce led Kansas City with 72 receiving yards and scored a rushing touchdown, tying Rob Gronkowski for third-most total touchdowns by a tight end with 108, including playoffs.
- Kelce credited Andy Reid and his teammates for his milestone, saying, “I’m just a product of my environment.”
The Kansas City Chiefs bounced back from their loss against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 1 with a lopsided 35-12 win over the New York Jets last Sunday, Nov. 8. Travis Kelce had reasons to celebrate beyond the win, too.
Kelce led Kansas City with 72 receiving yards and added a rushing touchdown in the game, bringing his career total to 108, including the playoffs. The 37-year-old also made NFL history, tying Rob Gronkowski for the third-most total touchdowns by a tight end in league history.
After the game, he was asked about both his historic record and his teammate, quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Regarding his record, Kelce was humble. "I've been very fortunate to be here in Kansas City with great play-calling like Andy Reid and great teammates that help me have that success," he said. "I'm just a product of my environment."
As for Mahomes, Kelce was much less humble about how he feels about the quarterback who's helped lead this team.
During the game, Mahomes appeared to injure his throwing elbow, but he didn't stop. The quarterback returned to finish the game and help lead his team to victory, and that wasn't lost on Kelce.
"Just a fearless leader," Kelce said of Mahomes after the game, as seen in a video shared by ESPN reporter Lindsey Thiry on X. "Doing everything he can to get back out there and lead us to victory, which he did. A lot of guys that got banged up today that fought through it, that's the game of football."
He added, "That's why we love it, man. You just put your heart on your sleeve and go out and play with the guy next to you."
Next up, Mahomes and Kelce will look to build on that connection on Sunday, Nov. 15, when the Chiefs hit the road to face the Atlanta Falcons.
