Travis Kelce Has a Theory as to Why the Chiefs Are Off to a Hot Start This Season

Travis Kelce is feeling confident in the Kansas City Chiefs‘ performance this season

He praised quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who returned this season from a torn ACL

Kelce broke the NFL record for most yards after catch on Sunday, calling it one of his coolest accomplishments

Travis Kelce is giving his personal insight into how his Kansas City Chiefs have transformed this season after last year’s underwhelming run.

On the Wednesday, Sept. 23 episode of his and brother Jason Kelce‘s New Heights podcast, Jason mentioned that the Chiefs “look like a completely different team,” from how they were last year.

The Chiefs won their first two games of the season, beating the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts. Last year was a disappointing season for the Chiefs, who were coming off a devastating Super Bowl loss after winning back-to-back championships the two years prior. They ended the 2025 season with a 6-11 record, and missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

Travis Kelce leaves the field after the Chiefs lost to the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14, 2025.
Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty

When asked to explain the difference, Travis, 36, said it all came down to camaraderie between the players both on and off the field.

“It just feels like there’s a lot more unity,” he explained. “You know, it may just be over the summer and all the acquisitions that we got, not only the players but the coaches, but just in the building, the determination and the mindset, there’s a different feel from how we go to work during the week, just our chemistry in the locker room and on the field.”

The tight end said that he feels players are working hard for one another and for the sake of the team as a whole.

Travis Kelce scores his first touchdown of the 2026 NFL season on Sept. 20.
Credit: David Eulitt/Getty

“Everybody’s just kind of playing off each other and it’s a fun game when you’re doing that, man,” he continued. “If you get everybody all in on the guy’s next to him’s success and playing their tail off for the man’s next to him’s success, it’s so much more fun, man. And that’s what you see right now.”

He also praised quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has returned to the field after suffering a torn ACL at the end of last season.

“You’ve got Patty Mahomes out there, the Texas gunslinger, man, he was f—ing letting it rip,” he added. “A few of them caught me off-guard and I’ve got to get my f—ing head around it. He’s putting the ball where it needs to be and he’s getting that ball out on time, which is really helping the offensive line too.”

On Sept. 20, Travis also broke the record for most yards after catch of all time, beating out Marshall Faulk for the record with 6,288 yards.

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“This is by far the craziest thing and honestly one of the coolest accomplishments I’ve ever had,” Travis told his brother of the milestone. “I had no idea I was even in the ballpark. I didn’t know I was top 5, top 10, ever. I would have guessed there was so many more.”

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