With a collection of championship rings and awards, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce doesn’t care about any new distinctions. Hyperbole became the currency of the day upon the invention of the internet and the 24-hour sports news cycle. In a rush to proclaim the best, modern dialogue glosses over historical relevance and distinction.
As a result, the mindset of making the latest events important becomes the priority. On his podcast, the future Hall of Famer did not want a certain unofficial award, and in hindsight, it looks like he made the proper call.
Kansas City Chiefs Star Travis Kelce Sternly Rebukes ‘America’s Team’ Distinction
The American football landscape changes at what feels like an annual rate. As veterans retire, rookies eventually take their spots, and the game moves on without a hiccup. However, since before many could remember, the term “America’s Team” became the sole property of the Dallas Cowboys, and with good reason.
Dallas’ fanbase may outnumber anyone else’s in team sports. With fans spanning the globe, the Cowboys brand is a formidable one. Recently, people began to use the term when referring to the Chiefs. To his credit, Kelce does not want that moniker, stating on his “New Heights” podcast, the seven-time All-Pro elucidated his thoughts, 37 minutes into the show.
“I’m kind of out on the whole ‘America’s Team’ deal,” Kelce said. “I don’t give a f*** about that s***. I want to be Kansas City, I want to be the Chiefs, man. I want to be the big, bad Chiefs. Come join if you want. America’s team? No, we’re cool. The Boys [Cowboys] can have that.”
Kelce’s points track. When the Cowboys began their run in the 1970s, NFL power was concentrated in only a few spots. Pittsburgh, Oakland, Dallas, Miami, and Minnesota led the way as those teams advanced to multiple Super Bowls. Without the social media cycle, access to the game looked rather limited in hindsight. Now, with teams in every possible geographical direction, the approach changed.
Additionally, what does the “America’s Team” title afford you? Nothing. It’s a fictional designation for the sole purpose of bragging rights during trash talk. The league does not award a trophy. Kelce and the Chiefs want to stack championships and not praise. Plus, the Chiefs fanbase, on a smaller level, continued to grow, even before the current regime.
If you look at a map of the United States, Missouri is far away from cities that contain NFL teams. As a result, the kids who grew up watching Christian Okoye in the late 1980s and Joe Montana in the 1990s now watch Patrick Mahomes and Kelce. Luckily, the one argument that has withstood the test of time is evaluating greatness by championship victories.
Three Super Bowls in the last six years mean that the youngest Chiefs fans will eventually grow into adults, and the fanbase strengthens in the middle of the country. Say what you will about Kelce, he cares about his city and the fan base alone. The only name he wants to hear is Super Bowl champion.