Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, acknowledged that his excessive playing time might eventually impact his physical health.
As he approaches his 35th birthday in October, Kelce has had a notably busy offseason, balancing television appearances with accompanying his pop star girlfriend Taylor Swift on her global tours.
During training camp on Saturday at Missouri Western State University, he admitted that prioritizing rest is becoming increasingly critical for him.
‘Last year was quite demanding on my body,’ he noted after practice.
‘I’ve logged more snaps than virtually anyone else in the NFL over the past five to six years, and while I’m proud of that, I recognize the toll it has taken on my body.
Kelce acknowledged that the 2023 season was ‘pretty taxing’ on his body.
Kelce feels he has accumulated more snaps than most players over the past five to six seasons.
‘Therefore, it’s crucial that I allow my body to rest and be prepared to push harder to endure a full 17-to-20-game season.’
The Chiefs seem to be bolstering their tight end roster, having signed veteran Irv Smith and drafted Jared Wiley from TCU. Additionally, they still have Noah Gray, who ranked fourth on the team in receptions last year.
Despite these additions, there are no indications that the Chiefs plan to limit Kelce’s involvement.
With training camp ongoing for about a week now, Kelce has not taken a single day off and has not suggested any intention to alter that.
‘This is my sanctuary,’ Kelce stated. ‘St. Joe, Year 12. That essentially means I’ve spent almost a whole year of my life here in the dorms.’
‘Some may think that sounds grueling, but I love it. There’s something about this place that prepares you every year, and I won’t lie, I was really excited as the time approached to get here and get started.’
‘This is where it all begins. People say it starts in the offseason, and yes, laying the groundwork for leadership and mentality is important.’
Despite everything, Kelce shows no intention of reducing his playing time.
‘Ultimately, this is where you discover what your team is truly made of, how to sharpen your skills, how to cultivate effective practice habits, and focus on details. No one can match Coach [Andy] Reid in that regard.’
Kelce mentioned that he collaborates with several personal trainers, stating, ‘I’ve got guys everywhere.’
However, he claims that not much has shifted in his offseason approach since the beginning of his NFL career.
‘With each season, you uncover ways to enhance what works for you, discard what doesn’t, and constantly strive to elevate your game to climb that success ladder,’ Kelce explained.
‘I would say I’m incorporating some new methods, but fundamentally, not much has changed. It’s all about hard work.’
