Rich Eisen piles the pressure on Travis Kelce: “He will be the focus as to whether the Chiefs are finally vulnerable”

The Kansas City Chiefs return to work this week with all rookies and veterans reporting for duty at Missouri Western State University for training camp.

As always, much of the attention is on Travis Kelce. The veteran tight end is now in the final year of his contract, following months of speculation as to whether he would continue with the franchise, move on or even retire.

The objective for Andy Reid’s team this season is to make it to the Super Bowl for the fourth year in a row. For Kelce, it will probably be his last chance to pick up a fourth ring.

There has been plenty of debate about Kelce’s future - and whether he will be able to reproduce his best form or even continue connecting with Patrick Mahomes. Rich Eisen put those questions as well as others out to his viewers on his Roku Sports show this weekend.

“A white-hot spotlight will be on Travis Kelce"

Eisen points out that the spotlight will be focused on Kelce more than ever this season, and not just for “who he is dating”.

Travis was one of several players who spoke to the media after mandatory minicamp practice last week. He was asked about his decision to see out another year in Kansas City.

“I love football. I don’t think I really thought about it that much. My friends and family, and the team... y’know the guys and women in this building, I love coming in to work every single day. It wasn’t a very tough one for me. I know I’m getting older, but at the same time, I still feel like I’ve got a lot that I can prove in this league and with that being said, it really wasn’t that hard of a decision for me.”

A reply which slightly surprised Eisen, considering how last season ended for the tight end - defeat to the Eagles in the Super Bowl and his worst figures in a decade.

“His numbers last year, I have them in front of me - the fewest receiving yards in a season for him since 2015: 823 yards, as a matter of fact. I need to amend that - it’s the lowest he’s ever had in any season in which he’s started 16 games, of his career... He started 16 games in 2015 at 875 yards receiving, he had 823 last year," Eisen said.

Super Bowl disappointment

“His three touchdowns last year - the fewest of any season of his career... ” was the next stat Eisen revealed. “And then there was the Super Bowl. In which we were expecting maybe another Mahomes-Kelce magic but as you know there was zero magic on that night because the Eagles pulled back the curtain on every single trick that the Kansas City Chiefs have”.

While Eisen admired Kelce’s honesty and the responsibility he shouldered for the Super Bowl defeat, there is no hiding the fact that the veteran tight end is now in the twilight of his career.

“He turns 36 in Week 5. Travis Kelce will be celebrating his 36th birthday the day before he goes and visits Jacksonville on a Monday night football game in Week 5," Eisen added. “The reason why I am bringing all this up now is that Travis Kelce, we already know has a white-hot spotlight on him, based on who he is dating.

Turning point for the Kansas City Chiefs?

“He will be the focus, as to whether the Chiefs are finally vulnerable and can get got, in their dynastic run” the the former SportsCenter anchor argued. “Because at some point, [Tom] Brady no longer had Randy Moss, he longer had [Wes] Welker - at some point, Mahomes will no longer have Kelce.

“Is this the beginning of the Chiefs potentially hanging onto the past? Is this potentially the moment when they’re not able to transition with another team that is equally as the Mahomes 1.0? How long will that transition be?”

All eye, Eisen reiterates, will be on the Chiefs TE. “Is he going to be the same Travis Kelce as previous years because it will be two consecutive years without 1,000 yards receiving. Is he the guy anymore? Can Mahomes connect with him?"

Reid happy with new, slimline Kelce

So what’s Reid’s take on all of that? The coach told the media last week that he is not pessimistic at all about what Kelce can bring to the team when the new campaign kicks off in September.

“I’m not really feeling that, it’ll be similar to last year I would imagine,” Reid told reporters. “He’s in great shape right now so I think he’s looking forward to getting going. I always watch him, I always keep an eye on him. I know he’s getting older - he doesn’t know he’s getting older but I do, so... If I think it’s catching up to him a little bit I’ll pull off and put him where he needs to be”.

Chiefs gear up for the new season

The Chiefs’ preseason begins on Saturday, August 9 against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium, followed by games against the Seahawks and the Bears.

The new campaign is drawing closer - for Kelce and Co. the regular season starts with an international game on Friday, September 5 against Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. What can we expect from Travis? We’ll soon find out.

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