There is simply nobody like Kansas City Chiefs' tight end Travis Kelce.
Now in his 10th season with the Chiefs, Kelce continues to establish himself as one of the league's top weapons as defenses struggle to stop the lethal duo that is Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In his career, Kelce has now collected 761 receptions for 9,665 yards and 64 touchdowns. He has tallied six-consecutive seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards – marking an NFL record for tight ends – and the six-foot-five, 250-pound Kelce is well on pace to shatter that mark once again this year.
"I think one of the things that I like about Travis is that he's able to identify the defense and what coverage they are in," said wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. "I [can do that] too, so we just work hand-and-hand."
Kelce entered this season just 994 receiving yards shy of the 10,000-yard mark, which only four tight ends in league history – Tony Gonzalez (15,127), Jason Witten (13,046), Antonio Gates (11,841) and Shannon Sharpe (10,060) have ever surpassed. He is now only 335 yards shy of reaching that milestone with nine games to go.
He currently ranks seventh in the league in receiving yards (659), and perhaps most impressively, Kelce – now 33 years old – has maintained his level of excellence despite checking in as one of the oldest players on the Chiefs' roster.
It's also no secret to opponents that Kelce will be involved early and often in the Chiefs' offense. In last week's victory over Tennessee, for example, Mahomes was able to connect with Kelce 10 times for 106 yards. In fact, in the five seasons the two have played together, the chemistry between the league's best quarterback and top tight end appears to be stronger than ever.
"It's the type of guy that he is. Obviously, he's talented – to be that big, to run routes like that and to have that speed – but [he's also] a great teammate," Mahomes said. "I think that's why he's taken [his game] to the next level. Everybody on that field enjoys watching him succeed because of the type of guy that he is every day."
In their 69 games together as professionals, Mahomes has found Kelce 443 times for 41 touchdowns. That includes seven touchdown connections this season, which ties Kelce for the NFL lead.
The future Pro Football Hall of Famer is seemingly rewriting the record books every time he takes the field, and he'll look to continue what has been yet another stellar season on Sunday against Jacksonville as Kansas City aims for its seventh victory on the year.
"Everyone's doing their job right now and everyone's making plays," Kelce told FOX Sports' Erin Andrews in an interview a few weeks ago. "We just keep finding new ways to get it done."
