Jason Kelce almost left the 2025 American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe red faced as he avoided finishing last in the celebrity golf tournament, ending the weekend in 86th place out of 90 competitors.
Kelce may have stepped away from professional football, but he’s clearly still looking for wins, wherever he can find them and he will need to keep looking after the tepid performance on the green.
Far from a strong showing, Jason did manage to narrowly edge out his NBC Today co-host Dylan Dreyer, who finished in 90th place at the event, which was held at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Club.
For the recently retired Philadelphia Eagles center, just staying out of the bottom spot was enough to avoid embarrassment across the 54-hole tournament that uses a modified Stableford scoring system that rewards birdies and eagles rather than stroke total.
Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs’ All-Pro tight end, fared slightly better than his brother but still well below expectations as he tied for 63rd place, alongside Davante Adams and Charles Woodson, as well as Rob Riggle.
The finish was a far cry from the standard Travis has set during his football career, where he remains one of the league’s most recognizable and productive players.
The celebrity-filled weekend featured fan-favorite challenges such as the Long Drive Contest and the Korbel Hole-In-One Competition. In the end, the NHL’s Joe Pavelski secured the championship, edging out former MLB pitcher, John Smoltz.
Can Kelce step it up in 2025/26 NFL season for the Chiefs? What is his projection?
While his golf game may need refinement, the bigger concern for Travis heading into the 2025/26 NFL season is whether his days as a dominant force are behind him, after recording just 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns last season.
They marked his lowest full-season numbers in nearly a decade and Kelce enters his 13th year in the league amid growing skepticism about his role and effectiveness.
Worryingly, ESPN’s Mike Clay has projected a further dip in Kelce’s production. According to Clay’s 2025 forecast, the tight end is expected to post 73 receptions for 705 yards and five touchdowns.
If accurate, those numbers would represent his lowest output since becoming a full-time starter in 2014, excluding his rookie year, in what might be his final year before retirement from football.
These projected statistics may not reflect only potential physical decline but also a strategic shift in Kansas City’s offense, with younger receivers like Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy expected to take on larger roles.
The Chiefs could be preparing for a transition away from leaning heavily on the 35-year-old Kelce and he could become somewhat of a specialist target instead of Patrick Mahomes go-to man.
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