by For most of Travis Kelce’s career, the Chiefs knew he could get around 12 or 13 yards when they got him the ball: from Kelce’s first season as the Chiefs’ starting tight end in 2014 to 2022, that was Kelce averages around 12.2 and 13.5 yards per catch per year. That is no longer the case.
In 2023, Kelce’s average yards per catch dropped significantly to a career low of 10.6 yards. And this year, Kelce’s average has dropped significantly again, to 8.4 yards per catch, easily the worst mark of his career.
Kelce still gets the ball frequently, with a team-high 84 catches this season. But his average yards per catch of 8.4 is ugly; One in two NFL players with at least 75 catches this season are averaging at least 10.0 yards per catch.
At age 35, Kelce has lost a step, causing him to run shorter distances and spend less time with the ball in his hands. With just two touchdowns in 14 games, he doesn’t find the end zone that often either. And his first downs have also declined, from 78 in 2022 to 50 last year and 41 this year.
The Chiefs have the NFL’s best record, and Kelce has a history of showing off in the playoffs – just like he did a year ago, when his 32 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns last postseason were the best of any NFL player. They need him to step up in crucial games this year as he is having his worst regular season.
