Travis Kelce is the most well-known tight end in football history.
That's what happens when you add dating Taylor Swift onto a championship and Hall of Fame career.
But it's crunch time for Kelce. He doesn't have a ton of NFL time left, and the Chiefs still need him.
Kansas City had a humbling Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, and their ability to bounce back could depend on what version of Kelce they get.
That's why The Athletic's Zak Keefer is keeping a close eye on Kelce as training camp gets underway.
"He’ll turn 36 in October," Keefer writes. "He regressed last season and was a non-factor in the AFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. He thought about walking away. He has about as busy a schedule away from football as any other player in the game. But Travis Kelce is back, invigorated by the sour taste in his mouth from that game in February. 'I feel like I failed my guys,' he said in June. He’s dropped some weight, looking to rediscover some speed and become, once again, the lethal weapon across the middle of the field he’s been for so much of his career. But will he? In Year 13? Coach Andy Reid has vowed to keep a close eye on Kelce in training camp, guarding against overuse. 'He doesn’t know he’s getting older, but I do,' Reid said. 'I can be the bad guy in some cases there, if needed.' Kelce’s role — whether he’s revived or regressing — remains paramount to the Chiefs’ success."
MORE: Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders could be subject to a 'second draft'
The Chiefs have tight end depth. Noah Gray is getting better.
But no one will be Kelce. He and Patrick Mahomes seem to operate on a whole different level when they're clicking.
To make it back to the mountaintop this season, the Chiefs definitely need them clicking.
MORE NFL NEWS:
- Chiefs' champion retires at age 29
- Jaguars' Travis Hunter plans begin to take shape
- The locker room reason Trey Hendrickson's contract saga could go sideways
- Browns rookie QB criticized for only having 'a firm handshake and intangibles'
- Caleb Williams is in a different kind of spotlight with the Bears
- Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. has a red flag