Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has leapt to Travis Kelce’s defense amid concern over his underwhelming start to the NFL season.

Kelce has put up the worst numbers of his career so far in 2024, with his measly return of eight catches for just 69 yards the lowest he has ever recorded through a three-game spell for the Chiefs.

Many have questioned whether the legendary tight end’s dedication to football has faded amid his whirlwind relationship with pop megastar Taylor Swift, while some are even calling for him to retire as he nears his 35th birthday.

Yet according to Reid, under whom Kelce has won three Super Bowls in Kansas City, the reaction to his sluggish start has been way over the top.

The iconic Chiefs coach insists Travis is by no means distracted and certainly hasn’t ‘lost a step’, instead suggesting NFL defenses are smothering him due to his quality.

‘I know people are saying that he’s old or that he has distractions, but defenses don’t think that,’ Reid said about Kelce on Wednesday. ‘Trav is fine. He just keeps being Trav. He works his tail off.

‘He hasn’t lost a step. He’s not distracted. (Defenses) are making sure he’s taken care of.’

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes made a similar argument about his long-time teammate after their win at the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

‘I mean the respect factor [defenses] have for Travis is still unreal and it’s well deserved,’ Mahomes said. ‘We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis and it’s like two or three people are going to him.

‘He understands. That’s the great thing about him. He wants to make an impact on the game but he wants to win at the end of the day.

‘I’m going to try and do my best to keep feeding him the ball whenever he’s there, whenever he’s open.

‘I think the more Rashee (Rice) makes plays, the more we’re able to run the football, the more we can get (Xavier) Worthy involved, I think that’s going to open up Travis more.

‘People are really emphasizing trying to take him away and it’s getting other guys open.’

In every season of his career so far, Kelce has averaged over 10 yards per reception a game, but this season he is down at 8.6 and has only had eight catches through three games.

While the Chiefs have managed to win all three of their games – against the Ravens, Bengals and Falcons – Mahomes has got the ball to his best friend far less than many expected.

Amid the fierce criticism of his current Chiefs form, Kelce spoke out on the matter during the latest episode of his and brother Jason’s New Heights podcast this week.

The NFL great, who was seen looking miserable on Kansas City’s bench in Atlanta after girlfriend Swift missed her first game of the season, admitted he is not too concerned by his individual statistics as long as the team keeps winning.

‘I’ve had a lot of catches in this league, man,’ Kelce said. ‘I’m not worried about the catches and the yards, and all of that, I have the most fun when I get the ball thrown my way, I mean, who doesn’t?

‘It has everything to do with execution and just making sure we’re doing everything we can to win these football games, that’s always going to be the goal. I think everyone saw my drop in the fourth quarter and the crucial third down, just trying to do too much before putting the ball away.

‘That’s probably the biggest thing for me is making the play in big-time moments like that. I think with how defenses are playing us right now, I’m not really getting a lot of opportunities to make plays down the field, but not using that as an excuse.

‘Moving forward, still trying to make sure I can help the team out in that regard knowing I’ve been that weapon for us in the past. Moving forward, everyone’s just tweaking their game in the right direction.’