Travis Kelce opened his 14th NFL season by climbing another rung in the record book, passing Jason Witten for second place on the all-time receiving-yardage list for tight ends during the Kansas City Chiefs’ 31-10 Monday night victory over the Denver Broncos.
Travis Kelce passes Jason Witten in Chiefs opener
Kelce entered the season with 13,002 career receiving yards, leaving him 45 yards behind Witten’s 13,046-yard total. He cleared that mark in the third quarter when Patrick Mahomes connected with him for a 59-yard gain.
- Kelce began the regular-season opener needing 45 receiving yards to move beyond Witten.
- Mahomes found the veteran tight end for a 59-yard reception in the third quarter.
- The play pushed Kelce into second place among tight ends in career receiving yards.
- Kansas City went on to beat Denver by 21 points in its season-opening Monday night game.
The 59-yard catch was Kelce’s longest reception since Week 15 of the 2021 season, when he recorded a 69-yard play against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Only Tony Gonzalez remains ahead
Kelce now trails only Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, who finished his career with 15,127 receiving yards. The Chiefs star’s move past Witten adds to a résumé that already places him among the position’s most accomplished players.
- 11 Pro Bowl selections
- Four All-Pro honors
- Three Super Bowl championships
- 1,083 career receptions, third among tight ends
- 82 touchdown catches, fifth at the position
- 38 career 100-yard receiving games, the most by a tight end
- 1,416 receiving yards in 2020, the single-season tight end record
At 36, Kelce is entering a season that could be his last, but his prominence has continued to grow following his recent marriage to Taylor Swift. His focus after the Denver win, however, was on the Chiefs’ result rather than the individual milestone.
Kelce puts team result before record
“Getting the win feels good,” Kelce said after the game. “Everything else is hoopla now.”
The record-setting night gives Kansas City an early-season boost as the Chiefs attempt to re-establish themselves among the NFL’s top contenders. Kelce’s next target is Gonzalez’s career yardage mark, though he made clear that the immediate priority is helping the Chiefs keep winning.
SEO Title: Travis Kelce passes Jason Witten for No. 2 in tight end receiving yards
Meta Description: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce moved past Jason Witten for second in career receiving yards by a tight end during Kansas City’s 31-10 win over Denver.
