4t Former Kansas City Chiefs Legendary Tight End Tony Gonzalez Says Travis Kelce Is Just Heating Up: I’m always cheering for him, you look at him this year what is he 35 or whatever it is, you’re getting a little bit older and your game has to change.
Former Kansas City Chiefs Legendary Tight End Tony Gonzalez Says Travis Kelce Is Just Heating Up: I’m always cheering for him, you look at him this year what is he 35 or whatever it is, you’re getting a little bit older and your game has to change. I went through this week all go through this when you play long enough it’s going to happen, you’re just not as quick as you used to be your not as explosive. But it doesn’t mean you can’t be as effective. I think you’re gonna see the old Travis, because the one thing that he has that most Tight Ends don’t have the ability, if there’s a corner route called and it’s covered and the middle is open and he can just run down the middle and Pat Mahomes can see it they can play backyard football. I got a feeling they’ll get back to that.”
Tony Gonzalez Champions Travis Kelce: “He’s Just Heating Up” as Chiefs Star Navigates Age and Adaptation
In the high-stakes world of the NFL, where every snap can swing a season, few voices carry the weight of Tony Gonzalez. The Hall of Fame tight end, who revolutionized the position during his 17-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons, recently offered a glowing endorsement of his successor in red: Travis Kelce. Speaking on a recent episode of NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, Gonzalez dismissed concerns about Kelce’s slow start to the 2025 season, insisting the three-time Super Bowl champion is merely “heating up.”
“I’m always cheering for him,” Gonzalez said, his tone a mix of mentorship and unwavering belief. “You look at him this year—what is he, 35 or whatever it is? You’re getting a little bit older, and your game has to change. I went through this; we all go through this when you play long enough. It’s going to happen. You’re just not as quick as you used to be; you’re not as explosive. But it doesn’t mean you can’t be as effective.”
At 36 years old (born October 5, 1989—happy early birthday, Travis!), Kelce enters Week 5 of the 2025 campaign with modest numbers: 15 receptions for 182 yards and one touchdown through four games. His most recent outing, a 37-20 Chiefs win over the Baltimore Ravens on September 28, saw him snag five catches for 48 yards—no scores. It’s a far cry from the Kelce of old, who exploded for 93 receptions and 984 yards in 2024 despite the team’s playoff push. Whispers of decline have crept in, fueled by Father Time and the relentless physical toll of the position. Yet Gonzalez, who amassed 15,127 receiving yards—the most ever for a tight end—knows this script all too well.
Drafted 13th overall by the Chiefs in 1997, Gonzalez played until age 37, adapting from a raw athlete to a savvy route-runner who thrived on precision over pure speed. “I think you’re gonna see the old Travis,” he continued, “because the one thing that he has that most tight ends don’t have is the ability. If there’s a corner route called and it’s covered, and the middle is open, and he can just run down the middle, and Pat Mahomes can see it—they can play backyard football. I got a feeling they’ll get back to that.”
This symbiotic magic between Kelce and Patrick Mahomes has defined Kansas City’s dynasty, yielding three Lombardi Trophies since 2020. Mahomes, the league’s premier improviser, has elevated Kelce’s game beyond stats: 2,078 postseason yards make him the all-time leader among tight ends, eclipsing even Rob Gronkowski’s 1,389. But as defenses scheme harder—double-teaming Kelce with safeties and linebackers—his explosiveness wanes. Enter adaptation: smarter releases, nuanced blocking, and those telepathic “backyard” plays Gonzalez envisions.
Kelce’s response? Stoic resolve. After the Ravens game, he quipped about his “dad bod” but emphasized film study and route tweaks. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, a Gonzalez contemporary, echoes the optimism: “Travis is a football player. He’s seen every coverage. He’ll adjust.” History backs it—Kelce’s October career stats boast 261 catches for 3,084 yards and 21 touchdowns over 45 games, a hot streak waiting to ignite.
For Chiefs Kingdom, Gonzalez’s words are a rallying cry. As Kansas City sits at 3-1 atop the AFC West, eyeing a fourth straight Super Bowl run, Kelce’s resurgence could be the X-factor. “He’s not done,” Gonzalez affirmed. “He’s just evolving.” In a league that chews up legends, Travis Kelce isn’t fading—he’s reloading. Arrowhead faithful, get ready: the old Travis is coming home.
