The Kansas City Chiefs have had a history of elite tight end play. In the 1990s and 2000s, Tony Gonzalez reinvented the position, setting numerous pass-catching records along the way. Before him, Fred Arbanas made a name for himself as one of the best in the league in the 1960s.
Travis Kelce has embraced his role as a team leader on and off the field during his tenure in Kansas City, and the Chiefs’ current tight end has established himself as not only one of the most productive tight ends of all time but also among pass catchers, period. Kelce is top 15 in career receptions and top 30 in career receiving yards.
With his 2-yard touchdown catch against the Jaguars, the popular tight end broke the franchise record for points scored in a career among non-kickers. With his touchdown reception, Kelce passed Priest Holmes as the most prolific touchdown scorer in franchise history.
Travis Kelce continues to rewrite the Kansas City Chiefs record books
Longtime Chiefs fans will remember Holmes, the record-setting running back who took the league by storm in 2001. At the time, new head coach Dick Vermeil had taken an inexpensive chance on the undrafted free agent who had experienced little success in Baltimore, and Holmes responded by leading the league in rushing yards.
Over the next few seasons, Holmes ran roughshod over the entire league, leading the NFL in rushing and scoring while enjoying one of the most dominant five-year stretches in league annals. All in all, Holmes totaled exactly 500 points scored in his Chiefs career, but Kelce finally eclipsed that mark on Monday.
Kelce also broke the team’s franchise record for total yards on that very same 2-yard play. He now stands alone in Chiefs history with 12,357 yards.
Kelce’s touchdown catch allowed him to eclipse the elusive Dante Hall, who held the franchise record for years after his remarkable career, in which he filled the highlight reels with his rushing, receiving, and kick returns.
Kelce has also been one of the most productive pass catchers in NFL playoff history, reeling in an impressive 178 catches (the most playoff receptions all time) for 2,078 yards (second all time behind only Jerry Rice). Though he is clearly in the twilight of his career, the Chiefs legend continues to take team records to new heights.
