This video won’t do much to quell the recent tidal wave of Travis Kelce criticism.
Fans are piling on the Chiefs’ tight end over what’s speculated to be premature celebrations during Kansas City’s win Sunday against Atlanta, where quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ intended touchdown pass in the first half was picked off.
In a clip shared Tuesday by X user @JCohen_NFL, Kelce — whose slow start to the year has become a hot topic — can be seen running toward the sideline as Mahomes hurls the ball in tight end Noah Gray’s direction.
As Kelce raised his arm, seemingly in response to the red zone pass, the ball was intercepted by Falcons safety Justin Simmons.
“Kelce celebrating when Mahomes throws it, only for it to then get picked, is killing me,” the X user wrote.
The social media commentary continued from there, with one X user posting, “One of the funniest things I’ve seen this season,” while another fired off a trio of crying laughing emojis.
A separate userdid suggest Kelce, 34, “was throwing his hand up for the ball not celebrating.”
The X post containing the video has been viewed more than 2.1 million times as of Thursday.
The first-half pick by Mahomes was his lone interception of the night.
He went 26-for-39 in the 22-17 victory, throwing for 217 yards and two touchdowns.
Kelce had another quiet evening, four receptions for 30 yards, as his somber sideline appearance fueled headlines postgame.
Despite the constant chatter about his performances, Kelce said Wednesday on the “New Heights” podcast his focus is helping the Chiefs stack wins in their quest for a Super Bowl three-peat.
“I’ve had a lot of catches in this league, man, 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?” the nine-time Pro Bowler said.
“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.”
Kelce has eight receptions for 69 yards and zero touchdowns through three games.
He tallied five touchdowns, 93 receptions and 984 yards in 15 contests last year — his first season since 2015 when he did not surpass 1,000 receiving yards.
Members of the Chiefs remain adamant that Kelce isn’t slowing down.
“I know people are saying that he’s old or whatever, that he has distractions, and all this. The defenses don’t think that,” head coach Andy Reid told reporters Wednesday.
“We have another receiver opposite him that has a lot of yards and catches. That’s how this thing goes. Trav is fine. He just keeps being Trav. He works his tail off and he hasn’t lost a step. He’s not distracted. That’s not the case. [Opposing defenses] are making sure he’s taken care of.”
The Chiefs (3-0) visit the Chargers (2-1) in Los Angeles on Sunday.