Travis Kelce gazed out across the crowd in the midst of his legendary speech at the Kansas City Chiefs' championship parade back in February. His words were both hilarious and powerful, punctuating a truly unforgettable celebration with an address nobody will soon forget.
"I just want to say I love you all," Kelce said as his words boomed from Union Station. "I love this team."
The speech fueled the party for the next several minutes, and as the confetti flew and Beastie Boys' lyrics were belted, Kelce's genuine affection for his home of seven years was clear as ever.
That love was demonstrated yet again six months later as Kelce signed a contract extension with the Chiefs on Friday that will keep the All-Pro tight end in Kansas City through the next six seasons. The move further positions the reigning Super Bowl Champions for a run at multiple titles, and for Kelce, it means he can continue to chase down all-time greatness in the red and gold.
In fact, it's not hyperbole to suggest that Kelce is already among the best to ever play his position in NFL history.
No tight end has ever amassed more than Kelce's 6,465 receiving yards through their first seven seasons in the league. He's the fastest tight end in NFL history to 500 catches – doing so in just 95 games – and with another 1,000-yard campaign in 2019, Kelce became the only tight end in the history of the game to reach the milestone in four-straight seasons.
The past two seasons, in particular, have been especially prolific. His 2,565 yards through the air are fifth among all players in that span, trailing only the New Orleans Saints' Michael Thomas, the Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones, the Arizona Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans.
His consistency in that time is equally remarkable, as Kelce has racked up at least 60 receiving yards in 26 of his last 32 regular-season games. For context, only Jones has accomplished that same feat since the beginning of the 2018 campaign.
And as unprecedented as the on-field exploits are, Kelce's desire to give back to the Kansas City community has been even more substantial. Through his foundation – Eighty-Seven & Running – Kelce has changed the lives of children and families throughout the metro, specifically through his support of Operation Breakthrough, where he helped open a robotics lab back in 2018.
The lab provides more than 300 area students with an educational opportunity that they would have never had otherwise and earned Kelce NFLPA Community MVP of the Week honors following its grand opening, adding yet another accolade to a career chock-full of them.
The Lombardi Trophy also joined that collection last season, as Kelce played an instrumental role in the Chiefs' three postseason double-digit comebacks with four touchdowns and 207 yards through the air. It all led to Kansas City's victory in Super Bowl LIV, which brings us back to Kelce's speech for the ages.
"This the most beautiful scene I have ever witnessed in my life," Kelce said as he wrapped up his remarks at the championship parade. "I love this city to death. I promise you, from here to the end, I cherish every moment with you all."
A contract extension now in hand, there are plenty of those moments left.
