Travis Kelce nears NFL receiving record for tight ends
2 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 9, 2026, 5:18 PM
Last updated Sep 9, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce enters his 14th NFL season needing 45 receiving yards against the Denver Broncos to surpass Jason Witten for second-most career receiving yards by a tight end. Kelce currently holds 13,002 career receiving yards, trailing only Tony Gonzalez. Retirement speculation followed the conclusion of the 2025 season, though the 36-year-old remains a focal point of the Kansas City passing attack. Beyond the yardage milestone, Kelce sits 168 yards away from Jerry Rice’s all-time playoff receiving record. The veteran intends to improve upon his performance from last year, during which he led the team with 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns. With a young wide receiver corps in place, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is expected to continue relying on Kelce throughout the upcoming schedule.
- •Kelce needs 45 receiving yards against Denver to pass Jason Witten for second in career tight end yardage.
- •The Kansas City tight end has recorded 13,002 career receiving yards to date.
- •Kelce trails Jerry Rice by 168 yards for the all-time playoff receiving yardage record.
- •He led the team in receptions, yards, and targets during the 2025 season.
- •Kelce currently ranks 23rd on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list.
- 5:18 PMYahoo Sports — Chiefs’ Travis Kelce on Brink of Dethroning Cowboys’ All-Time Receptions Leader in Week 1
- 4:10 AMYahoo Sports — Travis Kelce Nears NFL History as Chiefs TE Closes in on Cowboys Legend’s Long-Standing Record in Week 1
"Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce came back for a 14th season after a difficult 2025 year that saw the Chiefs finish 6-11, miss the playoffs, and lose Patrick Mahomes to a torn ACL. He signed a one-year deal in March and has made clear this will be his last ride in the NFL. […] The post Chiefs’ Travis Kelce on Brink of Dethroning Cowboys’ All-Time Receptions Leader in Week 1 appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
"Travis Kelce is called “Zeus” by his fans for obvious reasons. Now approaching the twilight of his career, Kelce has broken plenty of records with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 9, 2026, 5:18 PMChiefs’ Travis Kelce on Brink of Dethroning Cowboys’ All-Time Receptions Leader in Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce came back for a 14th season after a difficult 2025 year that saw the Chiefs finish 6-11, miss the playoffs, and lose Patrick Mahomes to a torn ACL. He signed a one-year deal in March and has made clear this will be his last ride in the NFL. […] The post Chiefs’ Travis Kelce on Brink of Dethroning Cowboys’ All-Time Receptions Leader in Week 1 appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
- Yahoo SportsSep 9, 2026, 4:10 AMTravis Kelce Nears NFL History as Chiefs TE Closes in on Cowboys Legend’s Long-Standing Record in Week 1
Travis Kelce is called “Zeus” by his fans for obvious reasons. Now approaching the twilight of his career, Kelce has broken plenty of records with the Kansas City Chiefs.
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