PALM BEACH, Florida – Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid knows he must lighten aging tight end Travis Kelce’s workload next season.
Whether that comes in practice, or games will be determined as Kelce, 35, will navigate his 13th NFL season in 2025.
Reid also believes if Kelce’s offensive teammates are also healthy, it could also play a bigger role in Kelce’s production, which dipped significantly during the Chiefs’ run to losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
“He’s willing. He’s learning when to come out, so he’ll get himself out of the game when he needs it. And I think that’ll just continue with age,” Reid said of Kelce during the NFL owners’ meetings on Monday.
“I didn’t think that was an issue this year, but I thought we were banged up at the outside positions and that doesn’t help a tight end’s cause at all.
“I just think the healthier we can be around him – he can still be productive.”
Despite leading the Chiefs with 97 catches last season, Kelce’s team-leading 823 yards were the lowest of his career outside of a rookie season that featured only one snap.
Kelce had three touchdown catches last season, and caught five touchdowns with 984 yards receiving in 2023.
From 2016-22, Kelce was an annual 1,000-yard receiver, and caught double-digit touchdowns in 2018, 2020 and 2022.
“I think the biggest thing is that I (expletive) love playing the game of football. I love playing. I still feel like I can play it at a high level…
