Sports host Mike Francesa wonders how committed Travis Kelce is to football while he’s ‘traveling the world’ with girlfriend Taylor Swift.
Kelce’s future in the NFL is in the spotlight after his latest subpar performance for the Kansas City Chiefs during their win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.
After Swift missed his first game of the season, the Chiefs tight end failed to impress again, managing just four catches for 30 yards at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
NFL analysts and fans are adamant that he will retire now at age 34. So is Francesa.
During the last episode of his ‘Mike Francesa’s Podcast’The American radio host questioned Kelce’s commitment to football because of his romance with Swift, describing his life with the pop star as one big “photo op.”
Travis Kelce’s Commitment to Football Has Been Questioned Over His Romance with Taylor Swift
“As an organization and as a coach, you have to ask yourself how committed Kelce is to the game right now,” Francesa said. “He’s got a lot going on in his life. His life has changed dramatically.
‘You see him in commercials, you see him in photographs, you see him now very conscious of how he’s dressed… and where the paparazzi are and everything else.
“It changed his life. And you wonder, where does football and football preparation come into that story?”
He later added: “Obviously, at this point in his career, you wonder where he is in his dedication, in his preparation, because his performance has declined dramatically. And it’s not just, ‘Oh, the Chiefs are moving on from Kelce.’ It’s more than that.
“It’s extremely human. His life has changed. He’s now hopping around the world with one of the most famous people in the world. His life is a photo opportunity.”
Kelce was captured on TV looking particularly miserable during the Chiefs’ win over the Falcons on Sunday night, and the clip went viral.
In three games this season, he has only eight catches for 69 yards and zero touchdowns, marking one of his worst starts to a season ever in the NFL.
Kelce’s NFL future is in the spotlight after his subpar start to the season
Many have wondered if his loss of form this season is related to his girlfriend Swift
Sports radio host Mike Francesa thinks Kelce has lost his dedication to the sport
After his first three games in 2023, Kelce 17 receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
NBC lead analyst Cris Collinsworth admitted he was “stunned” by his latest absence on Sunday night after watching him struggle so much in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Collinsworth said in commentary: “I’m just stunned. I mean, one game, what an achievement. Two games, okay.
“This is the third game now where we haven’t seen the magic of (Patrick) Mahomes and Kelce, and I can’t really explain that last one.”
Rodney Harrison, another NBC analyst, blamed Kelce’s recent disappointing performances on his other commitments.
He said, ‘He’s busy. He’s got a lot on his mind. Think about it. He’s doing a lot of different things. Media-wise, he’s playing football, he’s got other things to do.
The 34-year-old looked miserable as his struggles continued on Sunday night
‘When you are in that situation, you have to forget everything and focus 100 percent on football. That is the most important responsibility.
‘Guys joke about it. Jesse Bates did a great job tonight.
“He (Kelce) just doesn’t have the same speed. He’s still a good player, but I don’t think he’s a great, great player.”