10 Moments That Show Kelce’s Swagger and Skill
Travis Kelce is the rare athlete who backs up every bit of swagger with skill, heart, and intelligence.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
In these 10 moments, we see Kelce’s ability to take over games — whether with his body, brain, or bravado. He’s a tight end who moves like a wideout, thinks like a quarterback, and celebrates like a showman. Whether it’s playoff heroics, witty trash talk, or record-breaking stats, Kelce continues to redefine what greatness looks like at his position.
1. AFC Divisional Round vs. Bills (2022)
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With 13 seconds left on the clock, Kelce ran a savvy improvisational route that wasn’t even in the playbook, helping Mahomes set up the game-tying field goal. He read the Bills’ soft zone coverage and told Patrick pre-snap, “Do it,” referring to the route tweak. That blend of confidence, IQ, and chemistry was pure Kelce — and it sent Kansas City to overtime and, eventually, to victory.
2. Super Bowl LVII vs. Eagles (2023)
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Kelce came out hot, catching the Chiefs’ first touchdown with a slick pivot route that made defenders stumble. His precision footwork and subtle physicality opened space even against tight coverage. Swagger oozed from him as he celebrated in front of his brother, Jason, adding brotherly fire to a masterful performance.
3. AFC Championship vs. Bengals (2023)
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Playing through back spasms, Kelce caught seven passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in a tense rivalry game. He taunted the Bengals’ mayor in the postgame presser with WWE flair, proving his mouth is nearly as sharp as his route running. The toughness and trash talk sealed his spot as both clutch and charismatic.
4. Week 5 vs. Raiders (2022)
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Kelce only had 25 receiving yards — but four touchdowns on the night. His red zone dominance came from perfectly timed releases, subtle pushes, and high-IQ adjustments against linebackers who never stood a chance. He smiled through every spike, reminding everyone that swagger isn’t always loud; it can be surgical.
5. Week 11 vs. Chargers (2022)
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With the game on the line, Kelce caught the game-winning touchdown with 31 seconds left, his third score of the night. He bullied defenders across the middle, then sprinted past the secondary like a wide receiver in a tight end’s body. His celebration? A relaxed strut, like he knew it was going to happen all along.
6. Week 15 vs. Texans (2022)
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Needing overtime to survive a frisky Texans team, Kelce caught 10 passes for 105 yards, becoming the fastest tight end to reach 10,000 career receiving yards. He juked, stiff-armed, and dragged defenders like they were kids on a playground. In the postgame, he said it was just another day at the office — swagger personified.
7. AFC Divisional Round vs. Jaguars (2023)
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Kelce was targeted a playoff-record 17 times and caught 14 passes for 98 yards and two scores. His chemistry with Mahomes was surgical, marked by quick releases and option routes that seemed telepathic. He made it look easy, but his postgame mic-drop — “You gotta fight for your right to party!” — made sure everyone felt the impact.
8. Week 9 vs. Panthers (2020)
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Kelce finished with 10 catches for 159 yards, torching Carolina’s defense from every angle. He ran routes like a wideout, broke tackles like a power back, and celebrated with that signature point-and-salute. It wasn’t just a stats game — it was a reminder of how unstoppable he is when he’s feeling himself.
9. Week 1 vs. Texans (2020)
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Opening night of the pandemic-shortened season, and Kelce didn’t miss a beat, scoring the first touchdown of the Chiefs’ title defense campaign. He lowered his shoulder, bowled over defenders, and let out a primal yell that echoed through the empty stadium. Swagger under pressure, even without a crowd to feed off of.
10. Week 13 vs. Broncos (2021)
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In a physical, grind-it-out game, Kelce turned a simple catch into a 29-yard romp, stiff-arming one defender and hurdling another. That play alone shifted the energy and helped seal the win. He flexed afterward — not just his biceps, but his dominance as a playmaker who can bulldoze or finesse his way downfield.