Travis Kelce has reached a stage where every season brings a different question about what comes next. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end remains one of Patrick Mahomes’ most trusted targets, but expectations around his production have changed. His return for another season keeps the spotlight on him as Kansas City looks to maximize what he can still provide.
That is where advice from a former NFL great carries extra weight.
Rob Gronkowski Wants Travis Kelce to Focus on Consistency
Kelce is going to start his 14th NFL season with the Chiefs. After considering retirement following Kansas City’s Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce returned for the 2025 season and remained the team’s leading pass catcher in several key categories.
Kelce finished the 2025 campaign with 76 receptions for 851 yards and 5 touchdowns across 17 games, ranking fifth on PFN’s TE Impact Metric with an impact score of 80.6. He also led the Chiefs with 108 targets, showing that the Chiefs continued to rely on him even as his overall production dipped from his peak seasons.
That shift makes Rob Gronkowski’s message particularly relevant. The four-time Super Bowl champion believes Kelce does not need to chase spectacular plays to remain among the NFL’s best tight ends.
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Speaking to “Sports Illustrated,” Gronkowski offered a clear benchmark for Kelce’s upcoming season.
“At least 800 yards this season, about 75+ catches. That’s a very effective tight end in the NFL,” Gronkowski said. “That’s gonna be top-5 numbers.”
Gronkowski’s target is close to what Kelce already produced in 2025, suggesting the former Patriots star sees consistency as the key rather than a return to record-setting numbers.
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He also stressed that Kelce should not feel pressure to create highlight-reel moments every week.
“That’s all he needs to do,” Gronkowski said. “He doesn’t need to do any home run routes, you know, home run plays, grand slam hits where the bases are loaded, and he has to come through with a miracle catch down the field.”
The message fits Kelce’s current role in Kansas City. With Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy providing additional options, defenses may have fewer opportunities to focus entirely on the veteran tight end.
Gronkowski believes Kelce can make the most of that by continuing to move the chains and giving Mahomes a dependable option.
“He just needs to be consistent and get the first downs for Patrick and let the other guys in the offense take care of all the big plays,” he said.
Kelce enters the season as Kansas City’s clear TE1 after signing a one-year, $12 million contract extension (3 years on paper) in March. At 36, he remains heavily involved in practice, with Andy Reid noting that coaches sometimes have to pull him out to give him a break.
His recent numbers may no longer guarantee 1,000-yard seasons, but Kelce still finished 2025 as the Chiefs’ top target. Gronkowski’s advice points toward a simpler path for year 14th, to stay available, keep converting opportunities, and let the production come naturally.
