How Chiefs TE Travis Kelce turned wedding shape into football shape

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- At some point late Sunday, perhaps after he bearhugged kicker Harrison Butker, who made the game-winning field goal in the Kansas City Chiefs' overtime win against the Indianapolis Colts, star tight end Travis Kelce learned he earned yet another NFL record in his illustrious career.

In the second quarter, Kelce caught a short pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a reception he turned into an 11-yard gain. That moment was when Kelce broke the record for the most yards after the catch in NFL history, passing Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk.

"I had no idea," Kelce said after the game of breaking the mark. "It's pretty freaking cool, man, to be in talks with guys like Marshall Faulk, Larry Fitzgerald, Terrell Owens. That's some pretty cool stuff, man. Those are the guys I grew up watching. Guys like that fueled my love for this game."

Not only has Kelce, 36, recorded 6,287 yards after the catch in his 14-year career, but he also leads the league in the statistic this season (128), which represents the most such yardage in his first two games of a season, according to ESPN Research.

Such impressive production has helped the Chiefs to a 2-0 start and provided evidence that Kelce's individual performance has been better than the past two seasons, when he showed dips in speed and athleticism.

"Travis worked his tail off," coach Andy Reid said Monday. "He likes his surrounding cast, too, which sure helps as just an extra challenge there to make sure that you're up there and competing and doing your part.

"I know everybody questioned the wedding and all that. Would he be out of shape and honeymooning the whole time? But he works his rear end off. [With] Taylor [Swift], you're putting on four-hour shows. You've got to work hard, too. I'm sure she kicks him in the butt a little bit there, too."

Kelce entered training camp in late July three weeks after his wedding to Swift, the international pop superstar. His transition from wedding shape into football shape was smooth, too, since he didn't miss a practice and was still one of the Chiefs' best pass catchers, especially in one-on-one drills against linebackers and safeties.

Kelce's average route speed this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, is 11.56 miles per hour, the fastest he's been since 2022.

"It's not as much about the shape that I look like I'm in," Kelce said, smiling. "It's about the grit that I have and the heart that I have to get that ball north."

One of the best examples against the Colts was Kelce's highlight inside the red zone. In the first quarter, Kelce showcased his speed and quickness to run away from nickel cornerback Justin Walley for a 13-yard touchdown.

"I saw Cover 4 and that the flat defender was a little inside of me," said Kelce, who finished with a game-high 101 receiving yards. "I knew Pat was going to give me a chance, so just get the ball north and find a way to get into the end zone."

Once again, Mahomes and Kelce were instrumental in the Chiefs' offense scoring 33 points, a strong indication that the unit can continue to be potent this season.

Mahomes played with better rhythm and accuracy in his second game since recovering from the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee to finish with 382 passing yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. Sunday's game was the 23rd time in which Mahomes recorded at least 300 passing yards and Kelce finished with at least 100 receiving yards. The pair has produced the second-most such games of any quarterback and tight end duo in league history, just two games shy of tying Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.

"He's still doing it and he knows how to get open," Mahomes said of Kelce after Sunday's game. "He can make guys miss. For him to make the plays he made in the big moments of the game, that's who he's always been.

"Just as much as it's cleaned up the game for me, I think having [running back] Kenneth [Walker III] and the way he's running the ball gets [Kelce] into these matchups that he's going to win -- and he showed that."

Walker's ability to break tackles -- which has helped him lead all skill position players in the league with 369 all-purpose yards -- has created more opportunities for Kelce to avoid double coverage. The Chiefs lead the NFL in yards per game (457.5) and are third in points (32).

"Guys are playing their tails off for the guys next to them, and that's why I love this team right now," Kelce said Sunday. "We're in a zone right now where everybody is feeding off of each other. It's only making us better and making us play harder for each other."

On opening night, the Denver Broncos blitzed Mahomes in the third quarter on a third-and-6 snap. Recognizing the Broncos' man-to-man coverage, Kelce ad-libbed into a whip route, which allowed him to get open against nickel cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian. Kelce gained 54 yards after the catch on his 59-yard reception -- and his top speed during the highlight was 16.88 mph, according to Next Gen Stats.

Two of Kelce's teammates, receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton, executed blocks downfield for him. Against the Colts, receiver Xavier Worthy made a block near the goal line for Kelce to reach the end zone. Those moments of teamwork are one element he emphasized in Wednesday's episode of the "New Heights" podcast, hosted by Kelce and his brother, Jason.

"This is by far the craziest and, honestly, one of the coolest accomplishments I've ever had," Travis Kelce said of the yards after the catch record. "I've had unbelievable playcalling, unbelievable players around me blocking downfield, and you don't get this kind of [record] without the guys around you to help you to get these yards.

"But at the same time, man, it's a pretty cool stat to be a part of that when I've got the ball in my hands, I'm doing the most I can with it."