Travis Kelce Sets NFL Record as the ‘Oldest’ Player to Accomplish Impressive Stat in League History

The gridiron reign of Travis Kelce just won’t let up. 

Kelce, 35, became the oldest player in NFL history to catch 14 passes in a game during the Kansas City Chiefs’ 30-24 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 4, according to NBC Sports. 

The Chiefs tight end bested the record set by Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Bobby Engram, who caught 14 passes in a game against the Cleveland Browns in 2007 when Engram was 34 years old.

In fact, Monday’s 14 receptions were the most Kelce has ever had in a regular season game. He earned 100 total receiving yards, Kelce’s highest mark this season and the most he’s had since an October 2023 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. 

Kelce also had 14 catches in a January 2023 AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

For those counting, Kelce’s most receiving yards in a game came in December 2021 when he earned 191 against the Chargers. 

After Monday’s game, which improved the Chiefs record to 8-0, Kelce explained how things continue to go Kansas City’s way, despite the team dealing with injuries and stagnant play in stretches. 

“Everybody just believes at all times that we’re going to get it done,” Kelce told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt. “Because we’ve done it in the past, we keep doing it on nights like tonight.”

Kelce acknowledged that, in spite of the team’s perfect record, things haven’t been perfect — but said the end goal remains the same. 

“We’re going up that staircase,” Kelce said to Van Pelt. “Hopefully by the end of this year, man, we’re hoisting another trophy.”

If Kelce and the Chiefs emerge victorious at February’s Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, they would become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive titles. 

Kelce’s performance also continued to shed the early season narrative that the celebrated tight end had lost a step. During the Chiefs’ first three games of the season, Kelce had caught only 8 passes for a total of 69 yards. 

On a September episode of his “New Heights” podcast, Kelce admitted he used to get “really, really pissed off” if his stats didn’t meet expectations, but he eventually learned to let things roll off his back — with the knowledge that things would eventually turn around. 

“I stopped caring about stats about four or five years ago,” he told brother Jason Kelce on September 18. “I just went out there and started to play free and play for my guys. Sure enough, I think that’s the better mentality. You think about it more play by play and what your job is on that specific play.”

The Chiefs return to action Sunday, November 10 against the Denver Broncos.