Travis Kelce breaks another NFL record as he surpasses Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez again
Travis Kelce set another record at the expense of Tony Gonzalez as he helped the Chiefs survive against the Chargers on Sunday night.
The tight end chipped in with five catches for 45 receiving yards before kicker Matthew Wright knocked in a field goal from the left upright as time expired for a 19-17 victory.
And it was also a big night for Kelce individually, as his final catch of the game made him the fastest NFL receiver to pass 12,000 receiving yards in his career – in 172 games – according to the Communications department of the chief.
The previous record holder was another legendary Chiefs tight end in Gonzalez, who accomplished the feat in 210 games.
Kelce now has 12,010 receiving yards in the regular season, which is third-most among tight ends.
Jason Witten (13,046 yards) ranks second all-time among tight ends, while Gonzalez (15,127) holds the overall record (he also gained 4,187 yards with the Falcons).
Travis Kelce broke another record Sunday night as the Chiefs defeated the Chargers
His 45 yards on the night made him the fastest player in NFL history to reach 12,000 receiving yards
Late last month, Kelce moved ahead of Antonio Gates to third in receiving yards among tight ends with a 19-yard catch against the Panthers.
And he broke another record held by Gonzalez earlier this season, when he re-established the Chiefs’ franchise record for catches.
Gonzalez caught 916 balls for the team, but Kelce reached number 917 in his team’s victory over the Chargers on September 29.
He’s now at 987 with four games left this regular season, though it’s possible he could be ahead of the playoffs if the Chiefs can pull off an early first-round bye.
With the Bills’ loss to the Rams on Sunday, Kansas City now has a two-game lead atop the AFC.
The two-time defending champions are expected to beat the Browns next week and inch closer to booking home field advantage in the postseason.
Kelce achieved his latest feat on Sunday without his girlfriend Taylor Swift present, as she performed her final Eras Tour show in Vancouver.