As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for a new NFL campaign, questions are surfacing around veteran tight end Travis Kelce‘s physical readiness; and whether he can withstand the dual pressures of football and fame, with an interesting comparison to Taylor Swift.
Now entering his 13th season, the 35-year-old finds himself at a crossroads as still one of the league’s most reliable targets, but under increasing scrutiny over declining output and rising demands.
His 2024/25 regular season was marked by personal milestones but also statistical regression as he produced career lows in receiving yards and touchdowns, with 823 yards and three scores. The drop-off was particularly evident in Super Bowl LIX, where he managed only 39 receiving yards.
Still, his high points demonstrate that he’s far from finished. In Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Kelce made seven catches for 89 yards, setting a new franchise record for career receptions by surpassing Tony Gonzalez’s 916.
Then on Christmas Day against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he reached another milestone by recording his 1,000th career catch and overtaking Gonzalez again to become the Chiefs’ all-time leader in receiving touchdowns.
Now, as the Chiefs look to reclaim the NFL crown in 2025/26, Kelce is reportedly undertaking a demanding offseason regimen to drop 25 pounds. But will it be enough to help his cardiovascular system and endurance? This is where the Swift challenge comes in.
“Can I just say,” ESPN’s Hannah Storm said on SportsCenter, “He’s got to keep up with his girlfriend, who can do a three-and-a-half-hour concert without skipping a beat.”
He remains a central figure in Andy Reid‘s offense but must now share attention and opportunities with a younger, faster receiving corps including Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and rookie Jalen Royals.
In what could be his final season before retirement, does the three-time Super Bowl champion have what it takes as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid target another deep playoff run in the 2025/26 NFL season? Only time will tell.
How did Taylor Swift train for the Eras Tour?
Kelce‘s relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift has added another dimension to his high-profile career. He had been frequently seen supporting her during her global Eras Tour, which featured extensive choreography and spans over three hours per performance.
The physical endurance required for such a show has not gone unnoticed by fans of the star, who also showed off her routine which included months of dance training, vocal conditioning, strength workouts, and full-scale rehearsals.
Her physical readiness is one of her most underappreciated qualities, especially for back-to-back performances, and it has now been indirectly cited as a benchmark for Kelce, but can he out-compete her physical feats when it comes to the NFL field?
Read the full article here
