After winning back-to-back Super Bowls, reality has set in for the Kansas City Chiefs.
They got shellacked in Super Bowl LIX by the Philadelphia Eagles and then missed the playoffs this past season — to add insult to injury (or, perhaps, injury to insult), Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL the day the Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention.
Travis Kelce seemed to insinuate that Super Bowl LIX left a bad taste in his mouth, causing his return for what seemed like one more season. Well, he did the same after missing the playoffs and is returning for a 14th year.
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Fellow legendary Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez is fired up to see Kelce back on the gridiron.
"I did a sit-down with him...and I did honestly — I was like, he's done. He's got to be done. I mean, he was playing some good football, but clearly it's not what it was. Just like with me at the end of my career, it wasn't what it was when I was 27, 28, 29 years old. But he's got that drive. He wants to play," Gonzalez recently told Fox News Digital.
"Everybody knows, it's no secret, he's winding down an incredible career. But he is one of the best to ever do it, if not the best. And it's been fun to watch him play and see all the success he's had on and off the field. I love that guy. He's such a good dude off the field as well. He's easy to root for."
With perhaps a rejuvenated Kelce for what might be his final season, a revamped running game and a fully healthy wide receiver room, Gonzalez believes there is a chance the Chiefs could revert to their old form.
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"I mean, I've been more excited about them in the past, not going to lie," he admitted. "But I really do think Patrick Mahomes is going to have a great year. For some reason, I mean one of those old-school-type years. They still got really good receivers: [Xavier] Worthy, [Rashee] Rice, [Tyquan] Thornton, don't sleep on him. And then obviously Travis is still there. They got the running back now with Kenneth Walker. Offensively, they're going to be fine. They'll be a top-10 offense, Eric Bieniemy's back. So, offensively, I'm not worried about them...
"If they can creep into that top-10-type defense, then I see no reason. I mean, in the AFC, I think they got a good shot. I think they got a really good shot to win their division and to make some — hey, come playoff time, Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs? Come on. I'm not picking against them."
The Chiefs are personal for Gonzalez, as the organization drafted him 13th overall in 1997 out of California. Now in retirement, Gonzalez has partnered with Novartis to spread the word for men to get screened for prostate cancer, another aspect "close and personal to me" after losing two family members to prostate cancer with another currently battling it.
"It's something that runs in my family, something that I'm at risk for. The word that we're trying to spread together is: take the blood test. It's just a simple blood test, and early detection can save lives," Gonzalez said.
"It's the most common cancer amongst men — one in eight chance of getting prostate cancer. So, it's important, and early screening can save lives. So, that's what has to be understood about it, is that you can jump out in front of it. And there's stuff you can do about it. It's something that can be treatable if early detected. So, that's kind of what it is for me. It's like, why wouldn't I want to get on board with something like this?"
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