SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center:Travis Kelce Reacts to Making Chiefs History

Travis Kelce isn’t just the guy on SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Centerthe Chiefs—he’s also a record holder.

The NFL tight end, who has been playing on the Kansas City team since 2013, just broke a record previously set by NFL legend Tony Gonzalez, who spent 12 seasons with the team, and became the Chief’s all-time leader in receptions after earning his 917th catch during the team’s Sept. 29 game.

It’s an accomplishment Travis’ brother Jason Kelce was all too happy to boast about.

“That is an all-time stat,” the former Philadelphia Eagles player said during the Oct. 1 episode of the brothers’ New Heights podcast. “Considering who held the stat previously, and what he’s meant to the game of football in the tight end position, this is a milestone stat.”

He continued, “Congratulations Trav. I know you’re a humble guy, but that is incredible to see. And to be honest with you, when we were watching Tony do it—to even touch something he did with the Chiefs is mind-blowing in itself.”

And indeed Tony, who retired from football as an Atlanta Falcon the same year Travis began his career with the Chiefs, it still the all-time leader in receiving yards and most career receptions by a tight end.

It’s a legacy that has always inspired Travis.

“It’s crazy how things always come full circle,” the 34-year-old reflected. “Being at the top of the leaderboard with the Kansas City Chiefs who have been around since the ‘60s, one of the beginning organizations that made it all the way through that are still at their peak. And a lot of that is due to the rich history they have and to a guy like Tony Gonzalez, who has been a mentor to me.”

Travis continued, “I f--king love the guy. He’s motivated me in ways that he doesn’t even know, and I’ve tried my entire career to match what he was to this organization, to this game of football. To be in conversations—not to say that I am as good as Tony, not to say that I’ve surpassed Tony—to be in a conversation as cool as this, having as many receptions in the organization he spent the majority of his career in, is just an honor."

He also took a moment to address Tony directly. “I love you brother,” he added. “I can’t thank you enough for who you are as a person, and who you’ve been in my career. And I’ve taken everything you’ve taught me and I’ve ran with it. I’ve tried to become better because of it.”

Travis’ team record comes amid rumblings that the NFL player wasn’t performing to his usual standard during the beginning of the Chiefs’ season.

Yet while the tight end himself admitted, “I wished I played as good as I felt,” following the team’s narrow victory against the Atlanta Falcons Sept. 22, his performance was quickly defended by his teammates and loved ones.

As Jason told his brother on the Sept. 25 episode of New Heights, “It’s gonna go your way, especially if you freaking keep being the guy you’ve always been. There ain’t nobody that I’ve ever played sports with and nobody that anybody’s ever been on a team with that’s loved being out there with Trav more.”

Similarly, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes came to Travis’ defense following the game.

“It’s crazy because the team’s still—the respect factor they have for Travis is just unreal,” Patrick told reporters during a post-game press conference. “It’s well-deserved, but we’re calling a lot of plays for Travis, and it’s like two or three people are going to him.”

“He understands,” he continued. “I think 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 to keep doing my best to keep feeding him the ball whenever he’s there, whenever he’s open.”