12 Photos That Prove Kelce Is Always Open
Travis Kelce doesn’t just get open — he engineers space like a quarterback in cleats.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Few tight ends in NFL history have the spatial awareness, chemistry with their quarterback, and sheer football IQ that Travis Kelce brings to every game. From high-stakes playoff thrillers to early-season matchups, he finds creases in defenses like they were left there for him. These photos don’t just show receptions — they capture a player who turns every snap into a masterclass in movement and instinct.
1. 2023 AFC Championship vs. Bengals
Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In the second quarter, Travis Kelce broke away from double coverage and hauled in a crucial touchdown to give the Chiefs the lead. The photo shows him gliding across the end zone, arms extended, no defender within five yards. Even with a back injury and a questionable tag, Kelce made it look effortless.
2. Super Bowl LVII vs. Eagles
Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Early in the game, Kelce caught an 18-yard touchdown where he faked inside, then burst back out, completely losing the safety. The image captures Jalen Hurts pointing in confusion as Kelce celebrates in the back of the end zone. It was yet another reminder that his mind works two steps ahead of any defense.
3. Week 5, 2022 vs. Raiders
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Kelce caught four touchdowns that night, but the one in the fourth quarter stands out — tight coverage, red zone traffic, and still wide open. A snapshot freezes him between two stunned defenders, flexing after the catch. That game wasn’t just dominance; it was surgical precision.
4. Divisional Round, 2022 vs. Jaguars
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
With Patrick Mahomes briefly sidelined, Kelce became the obvious target — and still couldn’t be stopped. He recorded 14 catches, and one mid-field grab in the second half showed him perfectly slotted between linebackers, like he’d rehearsed the spacing himself. The photo? Mahomes was on the sideline smiling because he knew Kelce had it handled.
5. Week 15, 2020 vs. Saints
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Facing one of the league’s best defenses, Kelce found the soft spot in the Saints’ zone on a critical third down. The image shows Drew Brees watching from the sideline as Kelce jogs out of bounds untouched, ball in hand. It was the kind of play that made defenses second-guess their entire game plan.
6. Super Bowl LIV vs. 49ers
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Down 10 in the fourth, Kelce’s quick pivot off a play-action left him unguarded in the end zone for the Chiefs’ comeback spark. A still shows him catching the ball mid-air while Richard Sherman trails two steps behind. Big stage, high pressure — Kelce made it look like a backyard route.
7. Week 11, 2022 vs. Chargers
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
With just 31 seconds left, Kelce caught the game-winning touchdown after faking out Derwin James. In the photo, he’s already turned toward the crowd before defenders even realize what happened. In clutch moments, there’s no one Mahomes trusts more to create space from thin air.
8. Week 13, 2021 vs. Broncos
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Even in a low-scoring grind, Kelce found ways to pop open. One third-down catch in the third quarter shows him sitting quietly in a zone pocket, hands up like he knew the ball was coming all along. He’s less about flash here — more about consistency that’s almost boring in its reliability.
9. 2021 Divisional Round vs. Bills
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Thirteen seconds left. Kelce lines up, gives Mahomes a quick nod, then slices downfield for a 25-yard gain that sets up the game-tying field goal. The freeze-frame shows him in stride, untouched, with Buffalo’s secondary chasing ghosts.
10. Week 8, 2018 vs. Broncos
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Back in his earlier days, Kelce still had that knack. A second-quarter play saw him lose his man on a deep seam route and haul in a 23-yard grab with no one in sight. That snapshot of him calmly catching the ball with mile-high air all around still hits hard.
11. Week 3, 2017 vs. Chargers
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Kelce caught a sideline pass over the shoulder, somehow staying in bounds while shrugging off contact. The image? One toe tapping the turf, the defender sprawled on the grass behind him. Years before Mahomes’ MVP run, Kelce was already crafting separation poetry.
12. Week 4, 2016 vs. Steelers
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
In a blowout loss, Kelce was one of the few bright spots — one of his receptions shows him juking past two defenders after the catch. The picture freezes his footwork mid-cut, a linebacker diving the wrong way. Even on tough nights, Kelce stayed open, stayed ready.