One notable tight end whose best days in the NFL might be behind him is Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. Kelce is getting up there in age, considering he’s set to turn 36 years old in October, and he showed his age at times with the Chiefs in the 2024 season.
Kelce ended the campaign with 823 receiving yards, which marked a career-low for him in a single NFL season (not counting his rookie season in 2013 when he appeared in only one game).
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler used insight from coaches, executives and scouts around the NFL to compile a ranking of the top 10 tight ends in all of football for 2025, and where Kelce landed indicates that he’s not the player he once was.
He came in at No. 5 behind the likes of Brock Bowers, George Kittle, Sam LaPorta and Trey McBride.
“But several evaluators noted that Kelce played heavier last year, something he’s aiming to fix,” Fowler wrote. “He has slimmed down this offseason in preparation for what could be his final season. While a team source believes any weight issues did not affect his play dramatically, lack of explosive plays was a problem. His 8.5 yards per catch were a career low by a wide margin.”
One pro personnel evaluator claimed Kelce showed signs of physical decline, but said that he’s still someone defenses have to worry about because he’s such a smart player.
“For sure [he showed] signs of physical decline, but you still have to worry about him because he’s such a smart player with a great connection with the QB,” the evaluator said. “Just doesn’t get open like he used to.”
Plus, an NFC executive said that Kelce is “still awesome” even if his game isn’t as exotic as it used to be.
“He’s still awesome,” an NFC executive said of Kelce. “It might not look as exotic as he used to, but you still look up and he’s got nine for 70.”
Kelce has spent much of his career in the conversation for being the best tight end in the league. He put together a seven-season stretch earlier in his career where he totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards every single campaign. However, the last time he totaled quadruple digits in receiving yards was the 2022 campaign.
There was some uncertainty about whether Kelce would even return to the NFL for the 2025 season in light of Kansas City’s blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl earlier this year. However, he made the decision to play at least another season in the NFL.
Kelce will hope to still produce at a somewhat high level in the coming season and add to his collection of Super Bowl rings. He already has three rings to his name.
