Kaylah Walton
Travis Kelce is beginning to show the typical signs of aging that can accompany a long professional football career. Although it’s common for athletes to adjust their performance over time, some fans believe that Kelce‘s recent decline in production may be influenced by distractions in his personal life, specifically his high-profile romance with pop superstar Taylor Swift.
The speculation about their relationship started in fall 2023, gaining traction when Swift was spotted at a Kansas City Chiefs game alongside Kelce’s mother, Donna.
The Chiefs had a strong performance against the Chicago Bears, winning decisively 41-10, yet fans noticed Kelce’s performance began to wane around the time Swift started attending games more regularly. Nonetheless, the theory connecting his slight performance drop to his relationship with Swift may not prove accurate.
Prior to Swift‘s involvement, Kelce had already won two Super Bowls. He was firmly established as one of the NFL’s premier tight ends when Swift attended her first game in 2023.
That season concluded successfully for Kelce, resulting in his third Super Bowl title. However, a review of his statistics over the first ten seasons compared to the past two reveals a subtle decrease.
Kelce continues to receive a similar number of targets per game, with a comparable reception rate. However, the average yardage per catch and the total touchdowns have diminished.
Kelce’s Performance Metrics
The Sporting News reports that during the 2013-2022 seasons, Kelce participated in 144 games, receiving 1,146 targets, achieving 814 receptions, accumulating 10,344 receiving yards, and scoring 69 touchdowns. This translates to averages of 8.0 targets, 5.65 receptions, 71.83 receiving yards, and 0.48 touchdowns per game.
In contrast, from 2023 to 2024, he played 18 games with 133 targets, making 101 receptions, gaining 1,053 receiving yards, and scoring 5 touchdowns, resulting in averages of 7.4 targets, 5.6 receptions, 58.5 receiving yards, and 0.28 touchdowns per game.
While there has been a slight decline in Kelce‘s performance in the last couple of years, this change could be due to a variety of reasons, including age and the natural progression of his career, rather than solely his relationship with Swift.
