Travis Kelce talks golf, ‘Tight Finish U,’ and Chiefs’ newfound motivation after Tremendous Bowl loss

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Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce simply does not decelerate. Even after 4 straight seasons of posting greater than 1,000 yards receiving and celebrating his thirty first birthday in October, Kelce turned in his greatest marketing campaign ever. In 15 video games final yr, he caught 105 passes for 1,416 yards and 11 touchdowns. All three figures set profession highs. 

Kelce even took his sport to a different degree within the postseason, as he caught 31 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns in three video games. He set the report for many receptions in a convention championship sport with 13, and handed Rob Gronkowski for the most receiving yards by a good finish in a single-season in NFL historical past together with playoffs. Kelce merely does not decelerate, though his passions look a bit totally different within the offseason.

Normally in the summertime, Kelce ditches his pads and helmet for his golf equipment and hits the hyperlinks. Golf is his sport within the offseason, however he maintains the identical aggressive fireplace. 

“Up till about two or three years in the past I used to be simply out possibly a handful of occasions, however for the previous two or three years I’ve actually been selecting it up and taking part in a couple of times every week within the offseason,” Kelce informed CBS Sports activities. “Clearly when the season begins up it is exhausting to get on the market, nevertheless it’s only a enjoyable sport, I am so aggressive even with myself to attempt to beat my very own report or personal rating. It is one thing I can do with out anyone else being round.” 

The problem of the game is one thing that is additionally engaging to Kelce, as profitable takes psychological toughness, which can all the time dominate bodily prowess — regardless of the age. An ideal instance of this was on full show this previous weekend, as 50-year-old Phil Mickelson grew to become the oldest main championship winner in golf historical past after capturing a 6-under 282 to say the 2021 PGA Championship. 

“It was extraordinarily cool,” Kelce stated of Mickelson’s victory. “I bear in mind going to a Firestone match in Akron, Ohio, again within the day and seeing Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods and all the professionals go at it — even at the Masters this yr once I went, it is so surreal seeing these guys up shut and positively Phil as a result of he is been doing it ever since I used to be a child. And to see how the followers reacted for him this previous weekend and to see how dialed in he was — each shot — I used to be locked in on each single shot.”

Kelce additionally explores the enjoyable facet of golf in his spare time, and just lately teamed up with World Lengthy Drive Champion Kyle Berkshire, LPGA participant Cheyenne Woods and golf YouTube star Garrett Clark to take over a DICK’s Sporting Items location for an evening and compete in an in-store course problem. 

“I will let you know what, I had by no means hit something apart from a golf ball with a golf membership,” stated Kelce. “That’s all I’ve ever hit, they usually had me attempting to hit footballs off of tees, basketballs, something that was within the retailer that we may attempt to get in a hoop or in a gap. It was enjoyable. It was an absolute blast. I spotted what it was to actually go up towards the professionals within the golf discussion board, that was my first expertise doing that. I used to be taking notes greater than I used to be shelling out.”

Tight Finish U

Whereas Kelce has been taking part in loads of golf this offseason, he additionally has had a hand in a doubtlessly revolutionary challenge. Together with a number of different gamers, Kelce is aiding in establishing “tight finish college,” which can be an offseason summit held in Nashville, Tennessee, the place tight ends from across the league get collectively to bond, run routes and assist one another enhance their video games. 

“It just lately began when me, Greg (Olsen) and George (Kittle) bought on a textual content and stated, ‘Yo, let’s do that.’ These guys have undoubtedly been the pioneers and the fellows actually placing all of it collectively and I like the side of it. I feel it is completely wanted right here within the NFL, I do not assume the tight finish place will get sufficient love and will get sufficient credit score for the whole lot we do out on the sector, and that is league-wide. I feel the extra that we bounce concepts off of one another, the extra understanding that we get all through one another’s offenses and we are able to simply, , be taught from one another. Discuss it, speak about it, after which exit on the sector and actually undergo some routes or undergo some drills. I feel it is undoubtedly going to be one thing that advantages everyone.

“The tight finish room, everyone loves one another. All people watches one another’s movie and I feel it may be cool to get everyone in the identical constructing to actually try to make this place a staple in each single offense.”

Dozens of tight ends corresponding to Darren Waller, Zach Ertz and Mark Andrews have already reserved their spots for “TE U,” and Kelce says that they can not get invitations out quick sufficient. On the similar time, it is a new challenge, so they do not wish to host greater than they’ll deal with. Ultimately, nevertheless, Kelce says he needs this to be an enormous occasion. 

There’s one participant who’s awaiting the switch of his transcripts to “Tight Finish U,” and that is Tim Tebow of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He seems to have been invited through Twitter, however nothing is official simply but. Kelce says that he is excited to have Tebow again within the league, and thinks the previous quarterback can discover success at tight finish. 

“Tim Tebow is a family identify, man,” stated Kelce. “All people beloved the way in which he performed at Florida, beloved his ardour and the way he all the time left it on the market on the sector. Who does not need that of their facility? I am excited to see what he does within the tight finish room. I do know he isn’t afraid to be bodily, so I feel within the run sport he is really gonna transition fairly properly. Within the cross sport, I am simply excited to see the alternatives the Jaguars have drawn up for him.”

Newfound motivation getting into 2021

Golf and “TE U” are enjoyable offseason actions, however Kelce’s thoughts by no means strays too removed from his Chiefs and their preparation for the 2021 season. Kansas Metropolis gained Tremendous Bowl LIV to cap the 2019 season, after which misplaced only one significant regular-season sport in 2020. They made it again to the large sport, however have been defeated by Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-9.  

“Simply did not capitalize on alternatives that we wanted to capitalize on,” Kelce stated when requested what went mistaken in Tremendous Bowl LV. “It’s what it’s, I had just a few drops, I had just a few run assignments that I missed. That is all you are able to do, is simply watch the movie and consider your self after which come into work prepared to repair it with the fellows subsequent to you. I feel we bought nice leaders on this constructing, I feel we bought nice coaches, nice gamers and this actually issues to them. We will put within the work, we simply need to go on the market and repair the issues that should be fastened and be ourselves.”

Kelce says he is extra motivated than ever to get again to the large sport, and he isn’t taking something without any consideration. He needs his second Tremendous Bowl greater than he wished the primary. 

“Man, I will let you know, it undoubtedly turned it up for me. I need this subsequent another than I wished the primary one,” stated Kelce. “And simply to show to myself and to show to our workforce that we’re who we imagine we’re. I do not assume that sport actually confirmed our greatest. I do not assume we went on the market and performed our greatest and that leaves a bitter style in your mouth that you simply did that on the largest stage doable. So it places some fireplace in your coronary heart for the eagerness that you’ve for this sport and it simply builds, man. Hopefully we get one other alternative to go get one other one.”



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