"I want to be somebody everyone can count on": Travis Kelce opens up about his feelings and aspirations ahead of the season opener against Denver Broncos

Travis Kelce, the 36 year old Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end, is gearing up for seemingly his last season on the field after his performances in the last few years have sparked heated debates. Many have called him out for being “distracted” with his personal life while others have called him “too old” for the game. Ahead of the new season, his comments on being a reliable leader have resurfaced.Travis Kelce explains his regrets and why he wants to retire as a reliable leader for the Kansas City ChiefsA few weeks ago, as Travis Kelce stayed busy with the training camps, he spoke to reporters and said, "I've still got a lot of love for this game…I want to go out there and prove to myself that I can play at a better level than I did last year.”The Super Bowl champion added, “That's probably the biggest thing for me, is making sure I'm accountable to the guys in this [locker] room and every single play that I'm out there."Travis Kelce continued, "[Just] being more accountable when the ball is in the air," Kelce said. "There were a few games last year that I felt like I put on myself. In the blocking world, being able to get my guy so we can spring guys for bigger gains. And just being a better leader.”He added, "When we get stuck with adversity hitting, who's going to want to be in that foxhole with you. I want to be one of those guys everybody counts on to get us out of that foxhole."While there has been a considerable buzz around Travis Kelce’s personal life, he has tried to keep his focus on the field.Travis Kelce’s plummeting performance in the last few years have been a topic of concern and debate across analystsIn the 2025 season, the popular tight end recorded 76 receptions for 851 yards and 5 touchdowns across 17 games, earning his 11th consecutive Pro Bowl selection.Back in the 2024 season, Travis Kelce caught 97 passes for 823 yards and 3 touchdowns across 16 regular season games, as he earned his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl selection.This had sparked a heated debate among fans and analysts as many attributed his Pro bowl selection to the buzz around his personal life rather than his performance on the field.However, the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end has not acknowledged all the negative speculations about his career as he has tried to remain dedicated and committed to his team.As Travis Kelce gears up for the season opener against the Denver Broncos, fans have high expectations from him as many expect the team to win the Super Bowl this time.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.