NFL: Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs
NFL: Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs
Andy Reid is offering an explanation for Travis Kelce’s hot start. The Kansas City tight end looked like himself again in the Chiefs’ 33-30 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts, and his coach pointed to the work Kelce put in — plus the example set by his wife.
Kelce, 36, caught nine passes for 101 yards and a touchdown on Sunday night. It was his first 100-yard regular-season game since November 2024. Through two weeks, he has 12 catches for 172 yards and a score, and Kansas City is 2-0.
That is not the version of Kelce some people expected after a busy offseason. He married Taylor Swift on July 3. The wedding talk followed him into training camp. Would a 14th-season tight end come back soft after the parties and the honeymoon?
Reid’s answer on Monday was no. Kelce’s play thus far seems to agree.
#Chiefs Travis Kelce is off to a fast start in Year 14.
Andy Reid credits that to his offseason work…and some motivation from his wife:
"I think Taylor, you're putting on 4 hour shows, you've gotta work hard too. I'm sure she kicks him in the butt a little bit there, too." pic.twitter.com/985M0gblxW
— Matt Foster (@MattFosterTV) September 21, 2026
Reid says Taylor Swift sets the work standard for Kelce
Reid told reporters Kelce “worked his tail off” and took pride in keeping up with the skill players around him. Then he went further. People asked whether the wedding would leave Kelce out of shape, Reid said. Instead, the coach credited Swift’s own schedule.
“Everybody questioned with the wedding and all that. Would he be out of shape and honeymooning the whole time and all that? But he works his rear end off, and I think Taylor (Swift), you’re putting on four-hour shows, you’ve got to work hard, too,” the grizzled coach explained. “So, I’m sure she kicks him in the butt a little bit there, too.”
Swift has spent years putting on long stadium shows. Reid seems to be suggesting some of that standard has rubbed off at home.
Swift has been at both Chiefs games this season. Against the Colts, she showed her wedding ring after Kelce’s touchdown and yelled, “That’s my husband,” from the stands.
Taylor Swift points to the wedding ring after Travis Kelce scores a touchdown pic.twitter.com/RqU1GVaTcq
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) September 21, 2026
Wedding questions and distractions fade after a 101-yard night
Kelce was not just involved. He was the chain-mover again, including a chunk of yards after the catch that has been his signature for a decade.
A two-game sample is still a two-game sample. Nobody is handing out awards in Week 2. But the start matters because the questions were real. Aging tight ends usually lose a step. Reid is arguing Kelce has kept both, and that the person most people wanted to treat as a distraction is part of the reason.
The Chiefs will take their 2-0 record into Miami this Sunday. Kelce will take more targets. Swift will keep showing up in the suite. And if you’re a hater of the media attention the NFL’s First Couple gets, get ready for a really long season.