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Andy Reid Praises Travis Kelce’s Training-Camp Work as the Chiefs Tight End Faces a Harsh “Washed” Critique Ahead of the 2026 Season

KANSAS CITY, MO — Travis Kelce is set to begin his 14th NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs, but his return has not stopped debate about how much he still has left. Podcaster Scott Ferrall drew attention ahead of the 2026 season by calling the 36-year-old tight end “washed” and questioning whether Kansas City should have brought him back.

The criticism landed as Kelce prepares for another year alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is recovering from injury. Kelce’s recent numbers and the view inside the Chiefs’ building tell a different story, with coaches and teammates pointing to a player who remained productive in 2025 and kept working hard throughout training camp.

Reid Points To Kelce

Head coach Andy Reid made clear he still sees Kelce as an active, engaged part of the roster. After Kansas City finished training camp on August 20, Reid told reporters that the veteran receiver was so involved each day that coaches sometimes had to pull him off the field to give him a rest.

Reid used Kelce as an example for a younger team and said the tight end came to work every day. Linebacker Nick Bolton said he noticed the same thing, saying it was difficult to make excuses when the oldest player on the team was out there running routes and staying involved. Reid also said he appreciated the work Kelce and Mahomes put in during camp and felt the team made progress.

Production And Perception

Kelce’s on-field output has declined from the record-setting stretch he produced earlier in his career, but he was still a major contributor during Kansas City’s disappointing 2025 season. He played all 17 regular-season games, finished with more than 850 receiving yards and scored five touchdowns while averaging 11.2 yards per catch.

Those totals were strong enough to keep him among the league’s better tight ends. PFN’s TE Impact Metric gave Kelce an 80.6 grade, fifth-best at the position, and only six tight ends finished the season with a score of 80.0 or higher. The numbers leave room for skepticism, but they also support Kansas City’s belief that he can still help the offense.

What Comes Next

The Chiefs are trying to bounce back after missing the playoffs in 2025, and Kelce’s decision to return gives the team another season of the Kelce-Mahomes connection that has helped define the franchise. He has not approached camp like a farewell tour, instead taking on a workload that suggests he intends to keep playing an important role.

Kelce’s personal life has also been in the spotlight after he married Taylor Swift at Madison Square Garden on July 3, though his August focus has remained on football. Kansas City opens the 2026 regular season against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on September 14, and that game will offer the first real test of whether the veteran still looks like a top tight end. For roster and game updates, the Chiefs and the NFL remain the primary places to check.

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