‘I gotta be there for my guys’: Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce talks 0-2 start to the season, turning things around
I guess Patrick, you start to see what’s the name *** lot. Yeah, I think just after the first few weeks and you just you like games slip away, you know that we played two good football teams and made mistakes and big moments, um, stuff that we’re not used to doing, um, but, um, I think we’re, we’re coming together as *** team, man. I mean, when you deal with adversity, it’s about how you deal with it and, um, obviously this isn’t how we want to start, but how are we gonna respond. So, um, I’m excited for the next few weeks to see, see who wants to be challenged and how we can get back and, and really get after it. I mean there’s, there’s times I think just there’s little things here and there. I mean getting *** ball batted, uh, big play, missing some deep shots, um, um, things here and there that we just did, we didn’t do at *** high enough level, um, uh, uh, even like the first throw overthrowing Noah on that cover two look I mean seeing it right, just not making the throw and so, um, in this league you gotta make those throws and, um, I’ll be better, um, as the season goes on. Can you take me through the the the goal line. What were you seeing? What do you think went wrong on the play? Yeah, I mean we got the defense that that we wanted, you know, we, we expect them to play that 00 with the whole, um, player, uh, with the, the safety, um. I just got, I think I threw it, I threw it as *** tad too early, you know, just trying to put it on his body low before that whole player got there, and, um, I think if I can put it more on his body and not so far out in front of him, then he can catch it, take the hit and get in the end zone. Yeah, you wanna put it low just but more on his body, you know, whenever you’re in those tight quarters like that, um, you wanna give it to him, especially *** bigger guy, um, more on his body where he can catch *** brace for that contact. We knew the whole player would be looking for him. I mean that’s, that’s our, uh one of our big uh targets down there in the red zone, um, and so he was breaking to kind of make *** hit and um it was just unfortunate ball bounced up in the air, went right to him. What’s your regular brief maybe the slow starts. Um, I think this week, I mean, missing the throw of Noah hurts. I mean we, we got *** coverage that we expected and then, um, when they play that zone coverage into the boundary, you it’s gonna kind of *** high low with Trav or Noah and, um, obviously, uh, the corner bit down on Travis and, and you missed that throw and it kind of just kind of kills the momentum of the first drive and, um, obviously we didn’t get the 3rd down right there so, um, just me executing at that at that moment but it’s kind of been throughout the the whole team, you know, like we just to one guy here there it’s not, it’s not like we’re we’re missing by much and so. Um, I know it sucks to hear for the fans, but I feel like we’re close, uh, and so all we can do is just continue to work and continue to get after it, um, and be ready to play the Johnsons next week. I mean, knowing the guys in the locker room, man, I, I think they’re gonna respond by just working. I mean that’s, that’s how we’ve gotten to the point that we’ve gotten to, um, in, in our career here in Kansas City is that we believe the work kind of puts out the product and so obviously we’ve never been 0 and 2. Um, but we’ve had times where we’ve dealt with challenges before and lost games, um, and so I think, um, the guys that we have in this locker room, we’ll go back to work with that mindset of we’re gonna continue to work even harder, um, so that when we step in that field this next time we can find *** way to win in those big moments, uh, like we have at this first two weeks for *** quarterback snake, yeah, I mean, I, I’m always, I’m always up to it, you know, we, we’ve put it in certain games, um. Um, and, uh, I think just we, you saw the other 4th down we got it, uh, which is running with Kareem and so, uh, I was trusting Coach Ri whatever he calls, you know, and, uh, we’ve put it in and you kind of get, you have to get the right look and, uh, uh, we didn’t think they’re gonna give us that right look this week. I just I think just just kind of happened um they came out and play *** little bit more man coverage there, um, early in the game and Um, you saw I was able to, to use my feet because the guys were covering guys down the field and so it just kind of has happened, uh, but at the end of the day I’m just *** competitor. I’m trying to win, um, and so, um, whatever it takes, I’ll, I’ll, I’ll do, and, um, it’s, it’s been running *** few times this, uh, early this season, but we’ll get back to passing the ball again and, um, hopefully, uh, be better at as the season goes on. I find that like on that on that run. Of when to lower your shoulder and take on *** linebacker, um, and, and when to, you know, maybe protect yourself or, you know, when are you going to go on. Yeah, no, I think I did it. I do *** good job of it. Just you said it. I mean it’s start down in the red zone. You wanna get that first down to give ourselves *** chance to score *** touchdown there and so, um. I usually don’t try to run over big guys like so like that was uh uh not he hits hard but it was *** safety so just so I can kind of hit and fall forward, uh, not necessarily run over, um, but, um, uh, I, I think I do *** good job of protecting myself and you have to be smart in those situations and, um, I’ve just learned from experience. Um, I mean, I just take what the defense is, is giving us, you know, and I’ll go back and look on tape. I think the one big scramble that, um, I had early in the game down the field, I think if I would have waited just *** little bit longer, Juju ends up opening up in the spot that I, that, um, I ended up running. I kind of pumped the Juju, pumped the running back, and then, and then ran. I think if I just stretch my drop *** little bit, I probably hit Jui for the same, same distance. And so, um, that’s the stuff I gotta be better at, um, gotta trust in the guys they’re gonna get open and and trust the offense line and they’re blocking and so. Um, take what the defense is giving you and then, uh, let guys make plays down the field. Right And training if you have guys down. So I think it’s *** little bit of everything, uh, like, like I said earlier, I mean, we, it’s just like kind of one guy every play. I mean, you, you’ve seen there’s, there’s me missing throws early in the game and late in the game, um, and then there’s, there’s *** batted ball where I’m probably hitting Noah for *** 15 to 20 yard, uh, completion over the middle and then, um, missing Juju early in the game. I know I was pressured, but hitting them on that. I mean, it’s just little stuff here and there and so, um, in this league, especially when you’re playing good teams playing good defenses, if you miss those little opportunities, um, those drives stall out and so. Um, we’ll play another great defense this week, um, and so it’ll be another challenge for us, and I mean all we can do is get back to work and continue to work, um, so that we can kind of iron out those wrinkles and be better as offense. He, uh, the first and the second I went for the 4th down in your. Just run that play before I think years ago maybe it’s for the first time, but was that did you think they would go for 4th down here? Was that surprising you to go for it at that point? It’s never surprising for me. I mean, I always wanna go for it like that’s, that’s just who I am and I, I wanna be aggressive and, and do that. And I want, I know our defense and I trust in our defense to get *** stop and obviously we didn’t get *** defense holding to *** field goal. I mean, best that we can do in that situation and um. Um, that, uh, you, you always second guess it when it doesn’t work, you know, I mean, it’s when it works, it’s, it’s *** good thing when it doesn’t work it’s *** bad thing, but that I, I, I’d rather be on the aggressive side of, of, um, history than than the nonaggressive side. So, uh, whatever country does in that situation, I have full trust behind it and full confidence in it. Punted it later in the game was like maybe that was *** spot to go *** long long deal there. Um, no, I think the defense was getting stops, you know, and so they’re getting stops and, um, it was 4th and 7th. They and they had gotten some pressure on the play before and so, um, just trusting in your defense, you know, I, I think Coach treated him, he’s done it for *** long time and he’s, he’s won *** lot of football games and I think. Regardless of the decision when he makes that decision, everyone on this team trusted and has confidence in it, and that that’s why I think we’ve won as many games as we won. And so, um, he’s, he’s one of the best of all time. It’s not the best of all time at making decisions like that. And so I just trust that he’s gonna make the, the right decision at the right time. I wanna ask about about *** minute before the touchdown in Taiwan there was *** coverage bus that he was. It felt *** little bit like *** wide open. Yeah, what happened on that and how much is that one, yeah, I think obviously I was looking at Tykwon early, um, and then right when I went to throw to Trav because the guy was with Trav was about to be wide open, I kind of pumped, um, because I, I kind of pulled it, uh, not even pump, I pulled it back out the corner bit on Trav, um, and then trying to reset real quick and making the throw is, I think, um, in those situations, especially. Kind of in that 2 minute type situation knowing that the guy’s not as fresh and obviously you don’t know it’s gonna be wide, wide open but just trying to put the ball on his head and let him make *** play and I learn from it. I mean *** little later in that drive, uh, making just throwing it where he can make *** play on the ball and trust in them. So, um, that stuff I gotta continue to get better at, you know, like, um, hitting those deep shots early because even though we hit the touchdown later, if you hit that touchdown with maybe 2 more minutes on the clock, you might have *** chance to get the football back and so, um, uh, something that I’ll look at, learn from and try to be better this next time.
‘I gotta be there for my guys’: Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce talks 0-2 start to the season, turning things around
Updated: 4:44 PM CDT Sep 17, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce talked about the less-than-ideal start to the season and what the team needs to do to turn things around on the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast. Video above: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes discusses 20-17 loss to Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium Kelce spoke about the mistakes, including his drop in their 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, with his brother and co-host, Jason, a former center for the Eagles. “Gotta catch the ball,” Kelce said. “Gotta catch the ball and we give ourselves a chance.” Kelce said accountability is an important factor in finding success, and he knows people are counting on him. “Right now, we’re just not executing to the degree that we hold ourselves accountable to and that’s just – it starts up top with Coach Reid and how he holds us accountable. And then, you know, us players gotta hold each other accountable,” Kelce said. “I gotta be there for my guys, man, knowing that they put a lot on my plate to, you know, be a good player for this team. I need to … answer that bell, man.” He complimented the Chiefs’ first two opponents, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams have started their season in victory, going 2-0 in their first matchups. Kelce praised the Eagles’ strong players and coaches and said the Chargers “looked great” in their second game of the season after besting the Chiefs in Brazil. “0-2 start is not how you envision the year starting,” Kelce said. “Played two solid teams. … And we’re a play here and a play there away from, you know, being 2-0. And that’s what we see when we watch the film. And you know, it’s all about just keep coming to work every single day and getting right.” After the loss in the Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles, multiple people in the Chiefs organization took the blame. Head coach Andy Reid said he took “full responsibility” for the game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the fourth-quarter interception was on him, saying he threw to Kelce “a tad too early.” But Kelce owned up to the drop on “New Heights.” “The ball was where it needed to be when it needed to be there,” Kelce said. “I just gotta 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 just, it’s frustrating, man. “I’ve scored on that play a million times in my life, and – obviously exaggerated – but it’s just something that should have never happened and then, yeah, it cost us. It cost us big time, and that … hurts. But we’ll get it fixed.” While there are plenty of areas of improvement, Kelce said there’s plenty of promise, too. An example of that promise is offensive lineman Josh Simmons, who impressed Kelce with his performance and level of hustle. “Unbelievable athlete,” Kelce said. “Showed tremendous effort on that play to save a touchdown and give our defense a chance to at least hold him. And yeah, I love him for it, man. “It’s effort like that that’s going to have us, you know, in a good position moving on here. And as long as we keep that kind of effort throughout the year, throughout the work week and everything, we’re going to get this execution thing figured out, man.” The Chiefs will have to overcome the pressure of expected excellence to find their first win and get back on track, which is something that does weigh on Kelce at times. “You know how good you could be, and when things aren’t going smooth and the plays aren’t being made, you try to turn into Superman and you try to do too much,” Kelce said. “There’s a little bit of that, at least from me. I definitely felt that. … But at the same time, those instincts will come. Those instincts will come. “And I think just running this Andy Reid offense, which hasn’t failed us yet … and just doing what our coaches ask us to do and what our teammates ask us to do. Just keeping that focus going forward, keeping the energy up and the focus up and the attention to detail up, it’ll all iron itself out.” You can watch the full episode of “New Heights” below:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce talked about the less-than-ideal start to the season and what the team needs to do to turn things around on the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast.
Video above: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes discusses 20-17 loss to Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium
Kelce spoke about the mistakes, including his drop in their 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, with his brother and co-host, Jason, a former center for the Eagles.
“Gotta catch the ball,” Kelce said. “Gotta catch the ball and we give ourselves a chance.”
Kelce said accountability is an important factor in finding success, and he knows people are counting on him.
“Right now, we’re just not executing to the degree that we hold ourselves accountable to and that’s just – it starts up top with Coach Reid and how he holds us accountable. And then, you know, us players gotta hold each other accountable,” Kelce said. “I gotta be there for my guys, man, knowing that they put a lot on my plate to, you know, be a good player for this team. I need to … answer that bell, man.”
He complimented the Chiefs’ first two opponents, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams have started their season in victory, going 2-0 in their first matchups. Kelce praised the Eagles’ strong players and coaches and said the Chargers “looked great” in their second game of the season after besting the Chiefs in Brazil.
“0-2 start is not how you envision the year starting,” Kelce said. “Played two solid teams. … And we’re a play here and a play there away from, you know, being 2-0. And that’s what we see when we watch the film. And you know, it’s all about just keep coming to work every single day and getting right.”
After the loss in the Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles, multiple people in the Chiefs organization took the blame. Head coach Andy Reid said he took “full responsibility” for the game.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the fourth-quarter interception was on him, saying he threw to Kelce “a tad too early.”
But Kelce owned up to the drop on “New Heights.”
“The ball was where it needed to be when it needed to be there,” Kelce said. “I just gotta 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 just, it’s frustrating, man.
“I’ve scored on that play a million times in my life, and – obviously exaggerated – but it’s just something that should have never happened and then, yeah, it cost us. It cost us big time, and that … hurts. But we’ll get it fixed.”
While there are plenty of areas of improvement, Kelce said there’s plenty of promise, too.
An example of that promise is offensive lineman Josh Simmons, who impressed Kelce with his performance and level of hustle.
“Unbelievable athlete,” Kelce said. “Showed tremendous effort on that play to save a touchdown and give our defense a chance to at least hold him. And yeah, I love him for it, man.
“It’s effort like that that’s going to have us, you know, in a good position moving on here. And as long as we keep that kind of effort throughout the year, throughout the work week and everything, we’re going to get this execution thing figured out, man.”
The Chiefs will have to overcome the pressure of expected excellence to find their first win and get back on track, which is something that does weigh on Kelce at times.
“You know how good you could be, and when things aren’t going smooth and the plays aren’t being made, you try to turn into Superman and you try to do too much,” Kelce said. “There’s a little bit of that, at least from me. I definitely felt that. … But at the same time, those instincts will come. Those instincts will come.
“And I think just running this Andy Reid offense, which hasn’t failed us yet … and just doing what our coaches ask us to do and what our teammates ask us to do. Just keeping that focus going forward, keeping the energy up and the focus up and the attention to detail up, it’ll all iron itself out.”
You can watch the full episode of “New Heights” below:
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