Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, usually one of the most watchable stars on any football field, hasn’t done much of anything so far this season. In the Chiefs’ first three games, he’s totaled only 69 receiving yards. In fact, the Chiefs’ previous game, against the Cincinnati Bengals, put an end to Kelce’s 114-game streak of completing at least three catches per game. As Sports Illustrated’s Andy Nesbitt put it, Kelce “has yet to become the weapon we’re used to seeing in the K.C. offense.” Perhaps this is why, during last Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, Kelce could be seen sitting on the sidelines, looking very glum.
According to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, there’s a simple explanation for Kelce’s non-performance so far this season, and it’s one every leader should pay attention to because it tells an unfortunate truth about success in most areas. The more successful you are, and the more high-profile you are, the more you become a target for your competition, and for anyone else with any kind of agenda. Kelce, of course, is likely the most famous football player in the world right now, partly because of his spectacular performance on the gridiron, and very much because of his romantic relationship with Taylor Swift. And he’s is even more highly visible than usual at the moment, because the FX series Grotesquerie, in which he plays an important role, came out a few days ago.
And so, Mahomes explained in a Chiefs press conference after the game, Kelce is playing with a target on his back. “We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis, and it’s like two or three people are going to him,” Mahomes said. Fortunately, he added, Kelce has the right attitude about it. “He understands,” Mahomes said. “He wants to make an impact on the game, but he wants to win at the end of the day.”
More room for Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.
The Kelce pile-on has created new opportunities for other Chiefs offensive players to shine, including wide receiver Rashee Rice, who made 12 catches for 110 yards against the Falcons, and rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who made two touchdowns in his first ever NFL game. Partly as a result, even without Kelce doing much, the Chiefs have managed to win all three of their games so far this season, though sometimes by very narrow margins. “People are really emphasizing taking [Kelce] away, and that’s getting other guys open,” Mahomes said. As these other offensive players continue to make their mark, opposing teams will start defending against them as well, and that may create more openings for Kelce, he added. It will be interesting to see if that happens in today’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
There is another way to look at this. Mahomes may just be showing kindness and support to a teammate who just hasn’t lived up to his own expectations or anyone else’s recently. Indeed, Kelce placed the blame for his lackluster performance in the season’s first two games squarely on himself. He believes that he can (and will) improve his own performance and start playing like the star he’s been for the past 11 seasons. Whether or not that’s true, and whether or not the rest of the season goes any better for him, the underlying lesson is one every business founder or aspiring entrepreneur should note. The more of a splash you make, the more others will come after you, looking to copy your ideas, steal your customers, or both. It’s just part of the price you have to pay for any big win.
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