One day, very soon, Travis Kelce will walk into the Hall of Fame. He will be recognized as one of the greatest tight ends ever and perhaps the best playoff performer in NFL history. He is undoubtedly one of the main cogs in the Kansas City Chiefs’ potential dynasty with Patrick Mahomes.
But Kelce doesn’t seem to believe he’s the NFL’s finest tight end. At least, right now, he doesn’t.
In one of his last press conferences before the Chiefs left for Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas, Kelce talked up George Kittle — his positional counterpart on the San Francisco 49ers. Kelce claimed that Kittle is actually the best tight end in pro football, not himself.
While I don’t imagine many would agree with Kelce’s assessment, what makes the Chiefs’ superstar so great is that he probably believes it:
Travis Kelce on George Kittle:
“King of Tight End U, man. He’s the best tight end in the league and deservingly so this year. He’s been playing lights out, playing the best football of his career and really catapulting that San Fran team through the playoffs, man. I couldn’t be… pic.twitter.com/2hqfcix5UA
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) February 2, 2024
While it’s correct that the 49ers ask more of Kittle as a blocker, that doesn’t necessarily make him better than Kelce. If anything, Kelce being the arguably biggest matchup problem in league history as such a dominant receiving threat outweighs what Kittle does as more of a “traditional” tight end.
At any rate, in some ways, comparing the two players is like comparing apples and oranges. Both have different responsibilities for offenses with different goals. That’s probably what makes Kelce complimenting Kittle’s talents ring even more true because he knows they’re inherently different players.
Sometimes, you just gotta give a guy his flowers.
NFL fans loved Travis Kelce's humble compliment of George Kittle
I just can’t hate Kelce… https://t.co/F70ghpMSZW pic.twitter.com/P7Tkt7MlyP
— Ross Joyce (@Joycer1989) February 2, 2024
Even Kelce says Kittle is the best TE in the league. https://t.co/AQFd27lAz4
— The Ripamaru ⭐⭐ (@Ripamaru) February 2, 2024
Even Kelce knows Kittle is TE1🫡 https://t.co/utc7SCf6pU
— Rehan Feroze (@FerozeRehan) February 2, 2024
Class act! These are the best 2 tight ends in football! https://t.co/jxaV7qkS3j
— Chris Ball (@thisischrisball) February 4, 2024
chiefs are the kings of not providing bulletin board material https://t.co/U7ElBoNGhS
— tedmønds (parody) (@good_tweets_ted) February 3, 2024
I love a good TE who respects a good TE. https://t.co/h0ak6HJI3P
— Lisa💚🏈💛 (@thatlawyerLisa) February 3, 2024
Tight End University is the best thing to happen https://t.co/QCfQptanmh
— Sudhanshu Srivastava (@thetalesofsud) February 3, 2024
I don't like when the enemy talks all nice about our guys pic.twitter.com/idXn2arqQB
— Joe Maracic (@GrafixJoker) February 2, 2024
Good sportsmanship. More of this from sports figures who have the opportunity of a public platform. Setting a positive example never goes out of style. https://t.co/GnVGR3pB8y
— Michele Poole (@michelepoole95) February 2, 2024
