NFL analysts and fans are adamant Travis Kelce is hurtling towards retirement after his latest performance continued the worst form of his NFL career.
Kelce played a peripheral role again on Sunday night as the Kansas City Chiefs extended their perfect start to the season to 3-0 with a 22-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
The 34-year-old, whose girlfriend Taylor Swift missed a game for the first time this season, was caught by TV cameras looking particularly miserable on the sideline in a clip which went viral.
Kelce, a three-time Super Bowl champion, only had four catches for 30 yards in Atlanta as his sluggish start to the season continued after similar performances against the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
NBC’s lead analyst Cris Collinsworth admitted he was ‘flabbergasted’ by Kelce on Sunday night, having also watched him struggle in week one against the Ravens.
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Travis Kelce continued the worst form of his NFL career as fans and analysts tell him to retire
Kelce and girlfriend Taylor Swift attend the men’s US Open final during their trip to New York
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are loved up at the US Open
He said on commentary: ‘I’m just flabbergasted. I mean, one game, big deal. Two games, alright.
‘This is the third game now where we have not seen the magic of (Patrick) Mahomes and Kelce, and I can’t really explain that one.’
Rodney Harrison, another NBC analyst, blamed Kelce’s latest lackluster performance on his other commitments.
He said: ‘He’s busy. He’s got a lot on his plate. You think about it. He’s doing a lot of different things. Media-wise, he’s playing football, he’s got other things going on.
‘When you’re in that situation you’ve got to forget about everything else and focus 100 per cent on football. That’s the main responsibility.
‘He (Kelce) just doesn’t have the same speed. He’s a good player still but I don’t believe he’s a great, great player.’
Perhaps the clearest indication of Kelce’s tumbling support in football right now is that his loudest supporters are Taylor Swift fans.
The criticism, in particular from Harrison, drew a furious reaction from Swifties and they took to social media to defend him.
One posted: ‘This is such a bs talking point. Because if you actually paid attention to Trav, he’s 150% locked in on football.
‘Outside of the podcast (that he films on his off day), we do not see him. All of the “stuff” you see him involved with was done during the off season. I’m tired.’
Collinsworth admitted he was ‘flabbergasted’ by Kelce’s performance+
Angry Swifties have hit back against NFL analyst Rodney Harrison’s criticism of Travis Kelce+
NBC analysts Cris Collinsworth (left) and Rodney Harrison (right) both slammed Kelce Sunday
Swifties quickly took to social media to defend Kelce after analysts slammed his performance
Swifties quickly took to social media to defend Kelce after analysts slammed his performance
Another tagged Harrison into their post and wrote: ‘@Rodney_Harrison I see you have a family, but what I don’t see if you saying that your wife is distracting you from your job. Keep Travis’s personal life away from the game, or put yours into it.’
Do YOU think Taylor Swift is a distraction for Kelce?
‘There’s no way. Travis stays late at the facility getting more reps in and they decide to say that’, added a third Swiftie.
Kelce’s statistics in comparison to recent years show an obvious downturn in performance.
After his first three games in 2023, Kelce had recorded 17 receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
He opened the 2022 season with 17 receptions for 230 yards and two touchdowns across his first three games.
In the same period in 2021, he managed 20 receptions for 289 yards and three touchdowns.
So far this season he’s yet to score and has only managed eight receptions for 69 yards, which is the lowest for any three-game stretch of his entire career.
Kelce’s potential retirement was talked about heavily towards the end of last season, especially because his brother Jason – who is only two years older – decided to walk away from football in March.
But speaking before the start of this season, Kelce admitted football gives him ‘a purpose’ and that he would find it ‘hard trying to figure out when to call it quits’.
He said: ‘I just love football and how it takes me away from life and it gives me something I can feel genuinely happy about.
‘I enjoy coming in the building, working on my craft, getting to understand a new game plan and perfecting that for the people around me.
Kelce is enduring the worst run of form in his NFL career after a dismal start to the season+
Kelce is enduring the worst run of form in his NFL career after a dismal start to the season
‘It gives me a purpose to kind of go about my day and to live my life, and I just have so much excitement doing it. It’s going to be hard trying to figure out when to call it quits or not.’
Kelce has certainly started planning for life about football with his multitude of commercial deals and fledgling career as an actor and TV presenter.
He will star in an upcoming horror series on FX titled ‘Grotesquerie’ and will host ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?’ that will air on Prime Video. He’s also been lined up for a part in the highly-anticipated ‘Happy Gilmore’ sequel with Adam Sandler.
The Wall Street Journal revealed in December that Kelce had featured in a staggering 375 commercials broadcast during football games. That was the most of any player in the NFL.
His deals, which range from Pfizer to Campbell Soup and Pepsi, were mostly all signed before his love-life was thrown into the public eye but WSJ claimed many of the sponsors rushed forward the release of the Kelce commercials to coincide with his new level of fame.
Kelce also recently penned a $100million deal with Amazon for his wildly popular ‘New Heights’ podcast that he does with brother Jason.
Kelce has landed a role in Ryan Murphy’s new show on FX – named ‘Grotesquerie’
Kelce has landed a role in Ryan Murphy’s new show on FX – named ‘Grotesquerie’
Kelce recently dressed as a Roman Gladiator in the latest campaign for Pepsi and the NFL+
Kelce recently dressed as a Roman Gladiator in the latest campaign for Pepsi and the NFL
Fans watching Sunday night’s game flocked to social media to suggest the game is up for Kelce.
One wrote: ‘Travis Kelce looks like he’s ready for retirement. The regression is crazy!’
A second posted: ‘I hate that Taylor Swift has ruined Travis Kelce’s NFL career. He’s too distracted… Time for him to retire so he can focus on his girl and podcast. Time to move on’.
A third added: ‘Travis Kelce needs to get his mind back on football or retire. He hasn’t had a single double digit game this season. Time to be gone.’
‘The Chiefs proving 3 games in a row that Travis is worthless to the team. Rice should be getting his salary,’ another shared.
One fan brutally posted: ‘Taylor Swift actually ruined Travis Kelce lmaoo Just retire Travis, your heart isn’t in it anymore little guy and you’ll never be like Gronk.’
Kelce’s latest off-night came after girlfriend Swift failed to make an appearance at a Chiefs game for the first time this season.
The pop megastar was nowhere to be seen in Atlanta despite her free schedule as she enjoys a break from her international Eras Tour.
On Saturday Swift was spotted on a lowkey night out with BFF Gigi Hadid in New York City, where she rocked a plaid miniskirt as they grabbed a bite to eat at The Corner Store restaurant in SoHo.
The couple are said to be ‘way more rattled than they let on’ by the breakup ‘contract’ that appeared earlier this month and suggested a split was imminent.
Kelce’s representatives were forced to deny that the couple had plans to go their separate ways after a document written on the headed paper of his US PR company was spread online.
It outlined a supposed plan to release an official statement at the end of this month – three days ‘post-break up’ to ‘allow the initial media frenzy to settle and ensure clarity’.
The paperwork stated the announcement would focus on Kelce’s ‘personal growth’ by framing the breakup as a ‘natural part of life’. It would also highlight his ‘commitment to his career and his ongoing achievements in the sports industry.’
After their opening game of the season, Kelce and Swift flew back to New York together for a romantic weekend.
They dined out at famous Brooklyn restaurant Lucali, attended the US Open men’s final with Patrick and Brittany Mahomes and also were guests at the wedding of model Karen Elson.
Swift was spotted on a lowkey night out with BFF Gigi Hadid in New York City on Saturday+
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Swift was spotted on a lowkey night out with BFF Gigi Hadid in New York City on Saturday
Taylor Swift and Gigi Hadid turn heads in New York City
Mahomes claimed after Sunday’s win that Kelce’s coverage by opponents is making it hard to get the ball to him.
The quarterback said: ‘I mean the respect factor they have for Travis is still unreal and it’s well deserved.
‘We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis and it’s like two or three people are going to him.
‘He understands. That’s the great thing about him. He wants to make an impact on the game but he wants to win at the end of the day.
‘I’m going to try and do my best to keep feeding him the ball whenever he’s there, whenever he’s open.
‘I think the more Rashee (Rice) makes plays, the more we’re able to run the football, the more we can get (Xavier) Worthy involved, I think that’s going to open up Travis more.
‘People are really emphasizing trying to take him away and it’s getting other guys open.’