Legendary wide receiver Cris Carter has hit out at Travis Kelce.
Having endured a 2024 season to forget, during which he recorded the worst offensive production of his career — at least since his rookie campaign — the Kansas City Chiefs tight end has been on the receiving end of some harsh words.
Speaking on the FairCatch podcast, Carter attributed Kelce’s poor performances last season to his megastar girlfriend Taylor Swift.
“Dating her will take something from your career,” he said. “He also saw his brother walk away from the game and be successful.
“But he also saw his brother walk away from the game and the team won a championship. That would hurt.”
Carter went on to state that he can’t see Kelce ever reaching the All-Pro level again, despite him having been named to seven since 2016.
“Regardless of what he does, he will not be All-Pro Travis Kelce, and that’s one of the things that you have to talk to yourself. ‘I’m special doing this even if I’m 85 percent, 90 percent.’
“That’s why he only had three touchdowns during the regular season. But he can’t run the way he used to be able to run.
“His blocking has gotten worse. You saw one time he was supposed to block the defense in the Super Bowl and that dude about knocked his head off.”
Kelce had just 823 regular-season yards from 97 receptions and scored three touchdowns. In the postseason, he was unable to perform to the level he has shown in previous Chiefs Super Bowl runs of late.
Recording just 175 yards on 13 receptions in three playoff games, Kansas City was unable to achieve the three-peat as they suffered a devastating 40-22 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LIX.
However, Carter still thinks the 35-year-old — widely considered as one of the best tight ends in history — will play another two seasons in the NFL, but only because he wants to ‘keep pace’ with his high-profile popstar crush.
“I believe he’s gonna play at least another year or two, just to be able to keep pace with that girl he’s dating,” he added.
Kelce is sporting an all-new look in training camp
With the Super Bowl ending in devastation for Patrick Mahomes and co, Kelce had previously admitted that his retirement decision may have been different had they gone and won their third straight Vince Lombardi Trophy.
However, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid — whose gruelling training camp workouts are infamous around the league — has jumped to Kelce’s defense as preparations for the 2025 season began earlier this week.
Reid addressed the media on Thursday and discussed what he had seen from his team in the first few days of training camp, complimenting his 12-year veteran tight end in particular.
“He’s svelte right now,” Reid said, per @SleeperChiefs KC on X.
“He looks like he’s 20. He’s doing a great job. He’s in great shape. You can see he’s been working out.
“You saw him yesterday on the long run where he had the burst. He’s worked hard to get to this spot.”
While Kelce appeared to have trimmed down to get into a shape where he feels he can evade the inevitable Father Time with his 36th birthday approaching, his teammate Mahomes has been subject to criticism about his own physical appearance.
The two-time league MVP’s ‘dad bod’ has been the subject of debate lately, with him being called out by numerous media personnel over his appearance.
However, Mahomes appeared to somewhat cryptically respond to his critics by posting a compilation of clips of him working out and preparing for the 2025 campaign, with the use of Drake’s ‘What Did I Miss?’ track.
With the dynamic duo of Kelce and Mahomes nearing its end, the veterans will surely be seeking to savor their best performances together for last, and each firmly cement their places on the Mount Rushmore of Chiefs legends.
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