Travis Kelce (Image via Getty Images)
At 36, Travis Kelce appears to have little interest in easing into another NFL season. Kelce enters the 2026 NFL season under a different kind of spotlight. The veteran tight end is coming off a challenging 2025 campaign, while expectations around the Chiefs remain high after a disappointing 6-11 season. He is 35, 36, he looks good.
Because they speak to what happens away from game-day headlines, those comments carry weight.
“Travis too bro, I’m expecting Trav to be, this (explicit) just got married,” Mathieu said in the clip. And that says a lot about him. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has reportedly impressed those around him with his commitment during training camp, putting to rest any suggestion that his personal life or advancing age could affect his focus. A teammate’s recent comments have now offered a closer look at the veteran’s mindset. There was also plenty of attention on Kelce away from football following his marriage to Taylor Swift. For some, that naturally raised questions about whether the next chapter of his personal life might change his approach to the game. “I’m expecting him to just not be here no more. Like he’s here, but he ain’t here. But he was locked in bro. Every day. And that is one of the things I really respected about Kelce man. That dude never took days off. Every time I went to that practice field, I expect him to be there. Training camp can reveal a player’s habits, preparation and willingness to keep pushing when nobody is keeping score. For now, Kelce’s message seems clear through his actions: marriage may have changed his life away from football, but it has not taken away his commitment to the game.
Whatever that Travis was that we saw last year, he doesn’t look anything like that guy.