Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes on Travis Kelce: ‘The greats step up’

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce is not any stranger to the highlight, and because the crew gears up for one more playoff push, the long run Corridor of Famer is able to shine once more.

Recent off the Chiefs’ first-round bye this week, Kelce joined ESPN’s ”The Pat McAfee Present,” cleverly noting he’s “feeling 22 over again,” a playful nod to his popstar girlfriend.

For Kelce, the postseason brings out his greatest. The heightened depth, the win-or-go-home stakes and the elite degree of competitors elevate his sport. The veteran tight finish thrives in these moments, embracing the problem regardless of the opponent.

“I’ve by no means actually given it a lot thought when it comes to who we should always play or who I wish to play,” Kelce informed McAfee. “I simply need whoever we obtained to provide us their greatest effort. I really like going up towards one of the best and that problem week in and week out. So, I do know we’re going to get Houston’s greatest. That’s a hell of a soccer crew.”

Because the Chiefs intention for a possible Tremendous Bowl three-peat, Kelce’s targeted mindset resonates all through the crew, particularly with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I feel the greats step up within the playoffs,” Mahomes stated when requested about Kelce’s postseason mentality. “It’s simply increased depth. One of the best gamers and one of the best leaders step up and make one of the best performs, and he’s performed that. I anticipate the identical from him going into these playoffs. I feel his mentality that he steps on the soccer discipline with at apply and on sport day resonates with the complete crew and will get everyone to play their greatest soccer. That’s what it takes in an effort to win championships.”

Kelce’s management and selflessness have outlined his illustrious profession, even in a statistically modest 12 months by his lofty requirements. In his twelfth season, the 35-year-old recorded 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns (each profession lows). Nevertheless, private milestones have taken a backseat to Kelce’s crew success lately.

Final season, needing simply 16 yards to safe his eighth consecutive 1,000-yard season, Kelce determined to take a seat out the regular-season finale towards the Miami Dolphins to prioritize his well being for the playoffs.

The transfer set the tone for the Chiefs’ postseason run and exemplified his team-first strategy.

“I feel it meant so much to the crew that he put the crew above himself in that second,” Mahomes defined. “I imply, he clearly might’ve obtained 1,000 yards fairly shortly there, and all of us needed him to get 1,000 yards. He stated, ‘That’s not my aim, my aim is to win a Tremendous Bowl,’ and I feel guys took that they usually ran with it. Then, clearly, he stepped up his play and made a whole lot of big-time performs, and it labored out for one of the best.”

Whereas Mahomes admitted he needed Kelce to hit the milestone, he acknowledged the inspiration Kelce supplied by specializing in the larger image. Because the Chiefs put together for his or her subsequent postseason take a look at towards the Houston Texans this Saturday, anticipate the tone to be set by their dynamic quarterback-tight finish duo that appears to as soon as once more lead the crew to a different championship.

“I nonetheless needed him to get it (1,000 yards); I’m going to be trustworthy with you,” smiled Mahomes. “I feel it simply impressed the crew. I feel he form of has the center of a champion, and I feel that evokes everyone. When your leaders and your Corridor of Fame guys are doing that, I feel everyone is aware of that they should put all of it on the road.”