Travis Kelce on dropped pass and how the Chiefs can turn things around
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Travis Kelce addressed his dropped pass-turned-interception vs. Eagles.
- Kelce emphasized execution failures and accountability at all team levels.
- Despite 0-2 start, Kelce supports Andy Reid's system and offensive discipline.
Travis Kelce frequently breaks down the good, bad and ugly of a Chiefs game on his New Heights podcast.
And Kelce had plenty to say about the Chiefs’ 20-17 loss to the Eagles on the latest episode of the podcast, which was released Wednesday.
At the top of the list of topics was Kelce’s dropped pass near the end zone that was intercepted by the Eagles’ Andrew Mukuba. The Chiefs were poised to take the lead on the play, but Philadelphia ended up scoring a touchdown following the turnover.
“Gotta catch the ball. We give ourselves a chance,” Kelce said. “Right now we’re just not executing to the degree that we hold ourselves accountable to, and it starts up top with coach (Andy) Reid and how he holds us accountable. And then, you know, us players gotta hold each other accountable. I gotta be there for my guys, man, knowing that they put a lot on my plate to be a good player for this team. And I need to answer that bell, man.
“And an 0-2 start is not how you envision the year starting. Played two solid teams. ... We’ve just got to get the train rolling on the right tracks, man. We’re a play here and a play there away from being 2-0, and that’s what we see when we watch the film. And it’s all about just keep coming to work every single day and getting right.”
Kelce takes the blame
Kelce’s brother, Jason, who is the New Heights podcast co-host, wanted to talk more about that dropped pass. It went off Kelce’s hands to Mukuba.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said after the game the pass might have been a bit early, but Kelce was having none of that.
“The ball was where it needed to be when it needed to be there,” Kelce said. “I’ve just got to get my head around out of the break. And I shot you the text telling you that. It’s yes, one of those plays where it happens, bang-bang. And I know that that’s the window that it needs to be in. I know it’s coming out of armpits and ear holes of the offense and defensive line getting their hands up.
“And I’ve just got to be able to get my head around right now so that I don’t put myself in a position to let the ball surprise me like that. And it’s frustrating, man. I’ve scored on that play a million times in my life — and obviously exaggerated — but it’s something that should have never happened. And yeah, it cost us. It cost us big time. And that hurts, but we’ll get it fixed.”
Why Kelce is optimistic
The Chiefs are 0-2 for the first time since 2014, but Kelce believes the Chiefs can turn things around. He admitted to pressing a little bit.
“When things aren’t going smoothly and the plays aren’t being made, you try and turn into Superman, and you try and do too much, and that’s what you mean by pressing, is that you try and do more than what is asked of you on a certain play, of a certain moment and of a certain decision,” Kelce said. “It’s like, oh, do I just do the routine thing, or I do something spectacular and try and make it all work.
“And I think there’s a little bit of that, at least from me. I definitely felt that in the first game, not as much on this game, but at the same time, it’s like those instincts will come. And I think just running this Andy Reid offense, which hasn’t failed us yet. I think running that offense to a T and just doing what our coaches ask us to do, our teammates ask us to do. I think keeping that focus going forward with it, keeping the energy up and keeping the focus up and the attention to detail up, I think it’ll all iron itself out.”
Jason Kelce asked about when it’s appropriate to show emotion on the sideline when things are not going well.
Travis Kelce offered an interesting analogy for the players.
“Take the tuxedo off and put the blue jeans on, baby,” he said. “Let’s get this thing rolling. I think coach Reid, does it best man. I just followed his lead in that department.”
This story was originally published September 17, 2025 at 8:37 AM.
