EXCLUSIVE
How Travis Kelce ‘went above and beyond’ to retain focus amid Taylor Swift circus as Kansas City Chiefs aim to extend perfect start
The Kansas City Chiefs head into Week 9 as the NFL's only unbeaten team.
A prime time Monday night match-up pits the reigning Super Bowl champions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as they look to set a new record.
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The Chiefs kick off November having won every game since a Christmas Day defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, including four playoff match-ups and all seven contests so far this season.
Victory against Tampa Bay, who started the season strong but have since suffered back-to-back defeats and lost two key wide receivers to injury, would see Kansas City extend their winning run to 14 games.
That would be a new franchise record for a group of stars chasing the ultimate goal of a historic three-peat.
A championship defense has suffocated all challengers so far and provided the driving force behind Kansas City's unbeaten run so far in 2024, while Patrick Mahomes has continued to deliver at the opportune moments to keep the wins coming.
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And over the last few weeks, Travis Kelce burst into life.
The tight end, who has been a primary weapon for Mahomes in years gone by, scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 8.
In doing so, he became just the fifth tight end in NFL history to hit 75 receiving TDs, and since WR Rashee Rice went down injured against the LA Chargers in Week 4, Kelce has averaged 67 yards per game.
If he continues with that output, Kelce would end the regular season with an impressive 1,139 yards.
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He's arguably the NFL's most high-profile player these days, thanks to his relationship with Taylor Swift.
Such is his level of fame, that if Kelce under-performs on the field, his not-so-private life would be labelled a distraction.
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But, according Pete Sweeney, Editor-in-Chief for Arrowhead Pride and NFL analst for KSHB 41 News and Sports Radio 810 WHB, that suggestion couldn't be further from the truth.
Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of Monday Night Football Sweeney detailed how Kelce has been going above and beyond to silence the circus around Swift.
"I just think he's had so many productive years. I mean, he could have retired probably three years ago and still made the hall of fame," Sweeney said, when asked how Kelce has evolved into the cornerstone of this Kansas City team.
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"He just has the ultimate respect of his peers. And from what I have heard with this Taylor Swift thing, in talking to people in the building, he went above and beyond to just make sure that his teammates knew that he was still getting his work in.
"When you bring into the fold something that people are talking about that is external from the team, I think you've got to go the extra mile in ensuring, okay, I want my guys to see me coming early, staying late, those types of things.
"He's still even despite all the businesses and the attention that he gets as a celebrity."
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Sweeney added that despite his newfound celebrity status, Kelce still "keeps football the main thing".
"I think these guys realize too, and I'm extending it to Mahomes and Chris Jones, I think they realize that extracurricular stuff is cool," he continued.
"You can make a lot of money doing that type of stuff. But the only reason it exists is because we're so good at our main thing. And it's been impressive to watch."
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With a match-up against the Buccaneers coming in Week 9, the Chiefs will be hoping Kelce can continue to do his thing on the field and help his team extend their unbeaten run.
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