Forget Mahomes vs Purdy – the Tight End U matchup between Travis Kelce and George Kittle will define the Super Bowl
Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy are receiving the big headlines, but Travis Kelce and George Kittle could define Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
Together, the elite tight ends have more than 1,300 career catches, 17,000 receiving yards and 100 touchdowns.
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Kelce and Kittle are also founding members of Tight End University, which might sound like a joke but in reality is serious professional business.
Throw in the fact that Kelce is dating pop music sensation Taylor Swift and catching passes from Patrick Mahomes, and Kittle is one of the most unguardable receivers in the NFL, and it's easy to imagine either No. 87 for the Chiefs or No. 85 for the San Francisco 49ers winning the Super Bowl MVP on Sunday in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.
"Any time you're compared to Travis Kelce, it's a good thing," Kittle . "Travis is a guy who I watched since I was in college. When I ended up trading jerseys with him, I was kind of like, ‘This is one of the coolest games of my life.' I'm a huge fan of Travis Kelce.
"The fact that I've become friends with him, peers with him, run Tight End U with him, it's been awesome. He's someone I've looked up to. I've looked up to his game and watched so much of his film."
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While Kelce has become an international name both in sports and pop culture this year, Kittle had better numbers this season and was the only one to receive an All-Pro honor.
"The king of Tight End U," Kelce said. "He’s the best tight end in the league and deservingly so this year. He’s been playing lights out, playing the best football of his career and really catapulting that San Fran team through the playoffs, man.
"I couldn’t be more proud of him and couldn’t be more honored to go up against George in another Super Bowl. Can’t say enough amazing things about who he is as a guy, who his family is, can’t say a bad thing about him. So it's going to be a fun time."
So much fun that a former NFL quarterback suggested that Swift could leave Kelce for Kittle.
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David Carr, an analyst on NFL Network, delivered potentially the most scorching take of Super Bowl media week by saying that Kittle -- who is married -- is a better catch for Swift than Kelce.
"I'm glad Taylor Swift is out of the country," Carr said. "Because if she sees George Kittle, she might rethink the tight end that she chose."
The mutual admiration between Kelce and Kittle is captured by Tight End University, which was started with former Carolina Panther star Greg Olsen.
QBs and wide receivers get most of the attention in the NFL.
But tight ends have been changing the sport for decades, and Kelce and Kittle have pushed the position to a new echelon.
With speed, power, creativity, blocking prowess and soft hands, the multi-dimensional offensive weapons are living nightmares for opposing defenses.
"Tight End University was created to bring the tight end community together for an immersive three-day program," TEU's official website reads.
"Over the course of the summit, attendees are able to bond, collaborate with, and learn amongst their peers while participating in a variety of activities including film study, on-field drills, recovery, rehabilitation, and more.
"In addition to current players, TEU also features several retired legends who provide attendees with the invaluable opportunity to learn from some of the best to ever play the game."
Kelce is clearly on a Hall of Fame path and could end his career as the best tight end in NFL history.
Entering Super Bowl LVIII, the 34-year-old out of Cincinnati ranks fourth all-time in receiving yards (11,328) and catches (907), while being tied for fourth in TDs (74).
Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Rob Gronkowski have the career edge on Kelce.
But the longer he plays and the more touchdowns from Mahomes that he catches, the higher that Kelce climbs up the historical ladder.
Kittle, 30, has made five Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams since entering the league in 2017 as a fifth-round pick out of Iowa.
Kansas City and San Francisco have been dreaming of a return trip to the Super Bowl since training camp started for the 2023 season.
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In Las Vegas, Kelce and Kittle will enter Allegiant Stadium on Sunday attempting to one-up each other in the hope of lifting a world championship trophy.
May the best tight end win.
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