Travis Kelce couldn’t help but get excited for what the Kansas City Chiefs may have just stumbled upon
Travis Kelce and the Chiefs may have found something in Esa Pole.
Injuries have been just one of the many issues the Kansas City Chiefs have been plagued with in 2025. That, bad luck, and a whole lot of other things have turned this season from what should have been a Super Bowl redemption to likely not making the playoffs. KC has to win out, and a few other things need to happen as well. Luckily, they found something that can help them, and Travis Kelce is excited.
Kelce is excited and proud of Esa Pole, whom the Chiefs stumbled upon, again
“He came in, and I was extremely proud of him,” Kelce said on the New Heights Podcast. “Happy as hell for him. You want to talk about a guy who was just f***ing happy to play ball out there. High energy, no matter what the situation was. It seemed like he was f***ing happy to get after it. A guy like that who’s just been always itching at the bit to be able to get out there and show the world what he’s got. He’s a big, athletic guy. Happy as hell for him. I just wish we could have gotten the win for him.”
Pole was playing for the Chiefs during training camp and preseason games, that is, until they had to cut their roster down to 53 players from 90. Then, Pole signed with the New York Jets. He was an undrafted rookie who had never played a single game. On Sunday Night Football, despite the loss, the Chiefs realized he may be pretty good.
According to Pro Football Focus, Pole allowed just three pressures on 42 pass blocking snaps. He did that going against Danielle Hunter, and the Houston Texans – the best pass rush in the entire league. The thing is, this isn’t anything new. In Week 1 of the preseason, Pole played 27 pass blocking snaps and didn’t allow a single pressure.
The Chiefs may have found a guy who can be their legit swing tackle of the future. Or, they found their right tackle for when Josh Simmons gets back next season – who knows. And, who’s to say Pole won’t be on another team next season? But the Chiefs found something. Now, let’s see if they can use him to make a push for the postseason, as they play the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders to close out the season.