‘That Concerns Me’ — Former NFL LB Raises Major Question About Travis Kelce Ahead Of Chiefs Star’s 14th Season

During the NFL offseason, Travis Kelce has hogged the headlines for his marriage to Taylor Swift and retirement rumors, which he dismissed after signing a contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, as we approach training camp, one former NFL player raised concerns about the star tight end.

Sam Acho Raises Travis Kelce Concern

During this week’s segment of the “NFL Live” show, former NFL linebacker Sam Acho detailed his concern with Kelce’s form, which nosedived last season, and whether he can return to the form that made the Chiefs Super Bowl favorites.

“I have my doubts. I mean, think about it, last year, Travis Kelce is supposed to be kind of like their star at least for the last decade,” Acho said. “Well, last year, he had 76 receptions. That’s his lowest in about a decade. You saw the seven or so drops at critical times. You start to wonder, not just the explosiveness down the field, but will you be able to have that connection between the quarterback and true number one target, which is tight end, and so that concerns me.

“I’m also concerned about Patrick Mahomes’ health. He’s aiming to be back in Week 1, but let’s say he’s not, you could start off on the wrong foot. I think the Justin Fields addition is going to be huge. But for me, it’s, will Travis Kelce be able to get back to what he was doing during that Super Bowl run? Which is about 100 receptions, not just targets, but receptions, year in year out.”

Kelce’s inconsistent form, coupled with Mahomes’ recovery from an ACL and LCL tear, has wrought uncertainty on the Chiefs’ title credentials next season.

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Last season, Kelce earned a PFN Tight End Impact score of 80.6, ranking him at No. 5 in the NFL. He registered 851 yards on 76 receptions, resulting in five touchdowns last season.

The Chiefs’ tight end landed at No. 79 in the NFL Top 100 list and totally missed out on Pro Football Network’s comprehensive Top 100 list. PFN analyst Jacob Infante detailed why Kelce missed out on the elite list of the NFL’s best players.

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“You can’t deny the fact that the last couple of years or so, he’s been in decline,” Infante said. “In 2025, he finished as the fifth tight end, still very good, the fifth tight end, not quite that typical All-Pro level you come to expect out of Travis Kelce. In 2024, though, that was even lower. He ranked number 11 in Pro Football Network’s tight end Impact Scoring.”

Last season, the Chiefs slumped to a 6-11 record and missed the postseason for the first time since 2014, a year after drafting Kelce. Any hope that coach Andy Reid’s team has of returning to the Super Bowl will likely run through Kelce and Mahomes.