Travis Kelce isn’t the least bit worried about speculation that he’s slowing down as he gets older. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end told reporters on Friday, January 24 that he “laughs at” so-called concerns about his stamina on the field.
“As long as I’m going out there and we’re winning, baby, that’s all that matters,” Kelce said during the press conference ahead of the Chiefs’ Sunday, January 27 playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.
Travis Kelce is the biggest Swiftie in Kansas City — and he’s not afraid to tell the world. Speaking to reporters after the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Houston Texans in the divisional playoffs, Kelce, 35, was asked if he felt 10 years younger following his notable performance on the field. “Twenty-two, baby,” Kelce replied […]
This isn’t the first time Kelce has addressed claims he is older and slower on the field. On January 13 he told ESPN’s Pat McAfee he was “fired up” ahead of the team’s game against the Houston Texans on January 18. “I’m feeling 22 all over again, baby. Let’s go,” Kelce said, a reference to girlfriend Taylor Swift’s hit song “22.”
The Chiefs are hoping to make history as the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls after having won in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Kelce said the team’s upcoming game against the Bills is “one of the biggest challenges that we’ve ever had.”
Kelce also said that Bills quarterback Josh Allen “is who I used to dream about being like in the NFL,” adding that, for better or worse, he “never had the arm talent that Josh has.”
“Obviously, you could tell he’s really took the bull by the horns and really been their leader up front and channeled that,” Kelce continued. “Guys come in and out of the building and he’s the main piece in there, making that thing go week in, week out. I got so much respect for that guy.”
Despite the very real possibility the Chiefs could make NFL history with another Super Bowl win, Kelce has previously disputed the idea that the team is solely focused on achieving a three-peat. In a preview for his ESPN interview with Chris Berman last week, he explained, “I haven’t heard anybody talk about anything ‘three-peat’ [or] anything like that.”
“We’re focused on the Houston Texans right now,” Kelce continued. The Chiefs ultimately prevailed against the Texans on January 18, winning 23-14.
The Chiefs, who are ranked No.1 in the AFC conference, advanced to the conference championship against the Bills following the win. The winner of Sunday’s game will face the winner of the NFC conference in the Super Bowl.
“Anybody can get beat in the playoffs if you don’t come in with the right mentality and the right mindset dating back to training camp and throughout the season,” Kelce also told ESPN. “We have such a veteran team. We have so many leaders in so many different ways. Guys step up and guys just understand the task at hand.”
