KC Chiefs’ Travis Kelce paid homage to former tight end Tony Gonzalez on Friday
Two names sit atop many of the Chiefs’ all-time receiving records.
Tight end Tony Gonzalez is first in receptions (916), receiving yards (10,940) and touchdown catches (76).
When Gonzalez was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in 2009, it seemed possible those statistics would be topped one day by another Chiefs pass-catcher. But if it happens, it appears it’ll be another tight end who does it: Travis Kelce.
Kelce is second to Gonzalez in the three aforementioned stats. His career numbers: 704 receptions, 9,006 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns (tied with former wide receiver Otis Taylor).
It’s not as if Kelce, at age 32, is knocking on the door, but the 2021 season was his sixth straight with 83 or more catches and at least 1,000 receiving yards.
Gonzalez is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and Kelce could one day join him in Canton.
On Friday, Kelce talked with reporters wearing a Gonzalez T-shirt.
“Honestly, just repping my guy, man. The legend. It was the one hanging up in my locker at the moment when we just jumped off the field,” Kelce said. “So I was like, you know, rock 88 today and on a Red Friday.”
Unfortunately for Gonzalez, his playoff experience was limited with the Chiefs, who were one and done in three seasons.
Kelce was part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV-winning team, and will play in his 15th postseason contest in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Bengals.
He was asked what it means to be appearing in a fourth straight AFC title game.
“It’s another step to get to our ultimate goal, which is the Super Bowl. And by no means are we looking past this,” Kelce said. “But it’s just checking things off the list that we have started and and that we have been trying to achieve since back in training camp, OTAs, when we first started this journey.
“It’s an honor to bring it back here to Kansas City, where we know the football world is loved by Kansas City and Chiefs Kingdom. It’s just an honor to play in another one and you’ll see us go out there and give it our all.”
And maybe one day, another Chiefs player will be paying homage to Kelce.
This story was originally published January 28, 2022 at 3:05 PM.
