Former ESPN analyst Todd McShay blames Travis Kelce’s slow start to the season on his newfound fame and “jet-setting” lifestyle.
During an appearance on “The Ryen Russillo Podcast” Monday, McShay didn’t mince words while discussing Kelce’s lackluster performance in the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Atlanta Falcons, during which he recorded four receptions for just 30 yards.
“Every show I watch, every pregame show, halftime show, postgame show, weekday show, every broadcast I watch for the last few weeks, it’s like, are we not allowed to say that he’s out of shape?” McShay bluntly asked.
“That he’s been partying all offseason? He’s been jet-setting around with the most famous person probably in the entire world,” the analyst added, referencing Kelce’s romance with Taylor Swift.
As an example, McShay pointed to the pair’s long weekend in New York City, where they were spotted “drinking” and having fun at the US Open following the Chiefs’ game against the Baltimore Ravens.
“I want you to take a picture from preseason 2022 and then take a picture preseason 2024, they’re barely the same human being,” the former ESPN commentator said.
McShay also shot down claims that Kelce’s lack of production was due to defenses double-teaming him, which he argues has been happening throughout his whole career.
“Here’s the thing, bottom line with Kelce: The coverage and the respect he gets is the same, the athlete is not.”
Despite his concerns about Kelce’s conditioning, McShay noted that the three-time Super Bowl champion is bound to bounce back at some point.
“Now, is he going to work himself into shape during the season? Yeah, I’m sure he will,” he said. “He’s an unbelievable competitor, he’s one of the best to ever do it and he still finds a way to make a play or two here and there and shows up in some clutch moments, but he’s not the same guy right now.”
Kelce, 34, has had eight receptions for 69 yards since the season began earlier this month. He has yet to score a touchdown.
In comparison, by his third game last year, Kelce had 17 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Similarly, in 2022, the tight end also recorded 17 catches for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
“I don’t see the same explosiveness, I see him wearing down a little bit in games, it’s OK, he’ll work himself back into shape, it’s not the first guy ever whose not quite in the elite shape that he was,” McShay said.
Despite his criticisms, the sports reporter made it clear that he is “not blaming” Kelce’s performance on Swift.
“I think Kelce’s doing more commercials and things, he’s been at more events, doing more things socially,” he explained.
“It’s impossible to carry that schedule and still put in the same amount of time for football,” he concluded.
During the offseason, Kelce traveled to seven different countries to support the pop star on her international tour. He also inked a six-figure podcast deal, starred in Ryan Murphy’s new series “Grotesquerie” and landed a hosting gig on “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?”
