Travis Kelce on workload: ‘You signed up for the gig; you’ve received to do it’

As Tremendous Bowl LIX approaches, the way forward for Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce has been a frequent media matter. Whereas the franchise legend’s responses have at occasions been imprecise, Kelce has persistently stated that he wish to proceed taking part in past this season.

The 35-year-old reiterated that stance on Wednesday. He credited his private coach, Alex Skacel, and Chiefs assistant coach, David Glover, with retaining him on the sphere. He additionally is aware of to make sensible choices throughout video games to protect his well being.

“I want to play as long as I can play,” remarked Kelce. “I don’t know if that’s three years or what the rely is, however I’d say based on my well being, I’ve a very good routine set for myself. I try to hold myself out of sure conditions on the sphere, and on prime of that, simply ensuring that I’m at all times activating sure muscle mass and lowering the chance for me to get injured.

“I believe that’s the largest factor. I’ve a coach, Alex Skacel. I’ve received the trainers within the within the constructing in Kansas Metropolis. My man Glover is my go-to man, and I simply lean on them when each time I do really feel discomfort. I’m simply making an attempt to grind it out after I after I do.

Picture by Jamie Squire/Getty Photographs

“You signed up for the gig, so you’ve got to do it, man.”

Even in what is taken into account a down 12 months by his Corridor of Fame requirements, Kelce nonetheless totaled 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Shockingly, he was in on 84% of the Chiefs’ common season offensive snaps — his highest offensive snap rely since 2020. Kelce performed 92% of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps towards the Buffalo Payments within the AFC Championship sport.

In his personal media feedback on Wednesday, quarterback Patrick Mahomes famous that Kelce possible has the chance to reduce his function however chooses to remain on the sphere.

“I think it’s a level of leadership, someone that comes to work every single day,” stated Mahomes. “Obviously with his career, he could take reps off. He can kind of wait to play on the game days. That’s not his personality. He wants to be out there. He wants to put the work in, and whenever you have a Hall of Fame guy putting the work in, it kind of bleeds through the rest of the football team.”

Head coach Andy Reid described managing Kelce’s reps as a futile endeavor on Wednesday.

“You see it every day,” the coach recalled, “that he goes 100 miles an hour. He desires to be in on each snap. We monitor that, however he desires to combat you when he has to come back out. It’s the identical approach throughout video games. It doesn’t matter if it’s a walkthrough [or] if it’s full-speed follow, he desires to be part of it and be in there — and it’s not simply when he’s getting the ball or being dialed up there.

“It’s literally all the time, but we try to monitor that so he can stay fresh through the season, like we do the other players. But he lets it be known that he likes to be in there all the time.”

Kelce sees his work ethic as a mirrored image on Reid, his solely NFL head coach over a 12-season profession. Whereas follow guidelines have been totally different since Kelce entered the league in 2013, he sees Reid’s strategies as tried and true.

“The rules have changed drastically on how you can practice and things like that,” the tight finish defined, “however the greatest factor is that Coach Reid is that old style type soccer the place we’re going to go to work. He’s not going to fret about as a lot about getting guys their relaxation and their restoration and stuff. He’s placing that possession on the gamers themselves to be skilled.

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“On top of that, just throughout the years just incorporating good people with the right work ethic and the right talents to surround guys like Pat Mahomes. It’s been fun to see this place grow to where it is today, and I’ve got all the love for Coach Reid.”

A part of Kelce’s drive is knowing after a protracted profession how particular Tremendous Bowl alternatives are. He mirrored on the 2014 season on Wednesday, his first 12 months taking part in after lacking his rookie season with a knee harm. 2014 stays the one season in Kelce’s profession with out a playoff look.

“I feel like those are the moments that that make you appreciate what we have going right now,” he said. “I didn’t make the playoffs in 2014, which is my first 12 months within the league, and I keep in mind not likely understanding what to do as soon as the season ended. I used to be like sort of confused on all of the on a regular basis that we had. I’d say the largest factor is knowing that these moments don’t come to all people.

“These moments — there’s only two teams left out of 32, It’s such a special time in in Chiefs history, and this legacy is just so fun to be a part of because of the people that we have here. I’m just trying to cherish all these memories and make the most out of all these opportunities that we have chasing these rings.”

Whether or not the Chiefs win or lose on Sunday, Kelce will face extra retirement questions. At this second, he’s targeted on persevering with to enhance.

“I’m excited about life,” he declared, “and excited about getting better today in practice…I think everybody that’s the greatest at what they do, they have a desire and a love for the day in, day out grind that you have, and I wish everybody the best of luck over there.”