Travis Kelce, star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, brought a burst of excitement to Kansas City on Tuesday, January 14, as he went on air to promote a new product from Accelerator. Kelce, channeling his inner news anchor, got a special message in his earpiece during the broadcast—breaking news that Accelerator’s new orange ice pop flavor had officially launched. The excitement was palpable as Kelce struggled to contain his emotions, saying, “It’s the best flavor of all, and it’s even better than I thought it would be.” He even shed a few tears before adding, “I can just taste it. I’m sorry if I get emotional, but it’s that good!”
This public excitement from Kelce comes on the heels of the Chiefs’ preparation for the upcoming NFL playoffs. The team, who has had a full week off, is gearing up for their first playoff game of the 2024 season, where they’ll host the Houston Texans on Saturday. The Chiefs have been able to rest and reset in hopes of making a run for their third consecutive Super Bowl title, a feat that would add to their already impressive dynasty.
As the playoffs approach, all eyes are on the connection between Kelce and Chiefs’ quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. While the duo faced some struggles earlier in the season, including a rough start for both players, the energy around them is nothing but positive as they head into the postseason. Speaking to the media after a recent practice, Mahomes praised Kelce’s leadership, saying, “I think it just inspired the team. He has the heart of a champion, and that inspires everybody. When your leaders and your Hall of Fame guys are doing that, I think everyone knows they have to put it all on the line.”
Despite a season full of challenges, both Mahomes and Kelce have maintained their crucial roles in the Chiefs’ success. This year marked the first time in Mahomes’ career as a starter that he didn’t surpass 4,000 yards passing, and it was also the first year he didn’t receive a Pro Bowl selection since 2018. Similarly, Kelce’s performance this season has been marked by a slower start, finishing with just 832 receiving yards—the lowest of his career, barring his rookie season—and three touchdowns, the fewest he’s ever had in a single season.
The Chiefs’ struggles on offense have been reflected in the fact that they were one of only three teams this year that failed to score over 30 points in a game. The other two teams in this unenviable category—the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders—finished with a 4-13 record. Despite these difficulties, the Chiefs finished the regular season with a solid 15-2 record, earning the top seed in the AFC and securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
With an AFC Divisional Round game coming up, if the Chiefs win at home this week, they’ll advance to their seventh straight AFC Championship game, one shy of the all-time record for consecutive conference championships set by the Patriots’ dynasty from 2011 to 2018.
As the Chiefs prepare for the playoffs, the excitement is building, and Travis Kelce’s infectious energy both on and off the field is clearly a driving force behind the team’s hopeful run to another Super Bowl title.
