Chiefs TE Travis Kelce put his team first in Week 18
Kansas City Chiefs' tight end Travis Kelce needed just 16 receiving yards to hit 1,000 on Sunday. It would have been his eighth consecutive season with 1,000 or more yards, but he opted not to play in the game according to Chiefs HC Andy Reid.When Reid was asked about Kelce's decision after the game, he explained […]
Kansas City Chiefs' tight end Travis Kelce needed just 16 receiving yards to hit 1,000 on Sunday. It would have been his eighth consecutive season with 1,000 or more yards, but he opted not to play in the game according to Chiefs HC Andy Reid.
When Reid was asked about Kelce's decision after the game, he explained the decision was fully on Kelce.
"Travis [Kelce] is a humble, humble guy," Reid said. "It's different because of the financial part of it with Chris [Jones]. He didn't want to be selfish or come across as selfish — everyone, all the players wanted him to play but he just goes, 'You know what I don't like the way it feels.' He's not into that and so he chose not to play. I completely understand it but that's him, most guys would have gone out a probably done it, but he said, 'I've had a lot of records and this one here, I'm not going to do it this way."
Reid was also asked if he would have allowed Kelce to get the yardage needed if Kelce wanted to do so.
"You bet," he said.
Kelce arguably has the most star power in the NFL right now, but that hasn't seemed to change the core of who he is as a person. He loves to have fun, but he also is a team-first guy and a leader. If Kelce had reached 1,000 yards he would have broken his own record of seven consecutive seasons with 1,000 or more yards. No other tight end has had more than three in a row.
With Kelce on the sidelines, it allowed offensive players like Mecole Hardman and La'Mical Perine to play more than usual and turn out impressive performances. It will be huge for both Kelce and the Chiefs' offense that their star tight end is rested and refreshed for the postseason run.
There will be more records to be had this postseason, potentially, as Kelce is chasing Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice for the most all-time postseason receptions and receiving yards.
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He put in the work.
