KSHB 41 reporter Tod Palmer covers sports business and eastern Jackson County. Share your story idea with Tod.
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Travis Kelce’s NFL career will end with his bronze likeness in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in no small part because of his unique ability with the ball in his hands.
Kelce, the 13-year veteran Chiefs tight end, made a career out of finding the soft spot in coverage, then turning short passes into longer gains with his shiftiness and swagger after the catch.
It’s fitting then that Kelce took a 3-yard crossing route, juked a linebacker and turned upfield, rumbling nearly untouched for a 21-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
“That was a great play and a big moment in the game,” Patrick Mahomes said. “That’s when he usually makes his big plays.”
The score gave Kansas City its first lead of the game in a critical AFC West showdown, but it also etched Kelce’s name in the franchise record book once again, too.
Kelce’s 84th career score broke a tie with Priest Holmes for the most career touchdowns in Chiefs history.
“He deserves it with the work that he puts in every single day,” said Mahomes, who has thrown 58 of those touchdowns.
Kelce's 81 career receiving touchdowns already were a club record. He's caught receiving scores from three other Kansas City QBs — Alex Smith (21), Nick Foles (1) and Matt Moore (1).
Kelce — who also owns Chiefs records for receiving yards (12,782), receptions (1,054) and ranks second in yards per game (69.1) — also has two rushing touchdowns and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. He had a season-high nine catches for 91 yards against the Broncos.
“He’s a leader, man,” Mahomes said. “He’s someone that comes to work every single day and puts the time in. It just speaks to the person that he is that he’s able to go out there and break that record.”
Additionally, Kelce has 20 postseason touchdown catches, which rank second in NFL history behind Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice (22).
No one else has more than 15.
Kelce and Mahomes have connected on a record 18 touchdown passes in the playoffs. Smith and Chad Henne have the other postseason TD tosses to Kelce.
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