Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes Address Their Disappointing Start to Chiefs’ Season: ‘Super Bowl or Failure’

In a Monday Night Countdown sit down with Jason Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs stars, alongside head coach Andy Reid, reflected on starting the season 0-2 for the first time since 2014.

Jason, 37, called it “probably the hardest” start to a season Mahomes, 30, and Travis, 36, “have faced together” before asking, “How have you guys been handling this new form of adversity?”

Mahomes answered the question first, telling Jason, “Just going back to the fundamentals and the work that we put in.”

The quarterback noted that the Chiefs started the season with “a couple early injuries” and after playing “a couple of really good football teams” in the opening weeks.

It’s kind of one play here or there that changes the entire game,” Mahomes said. The key for them, he said, is to remember: “Don’t make it bigger than what it is.”

Reid praised his tight end and quarterback as players who “bring it every day” to the team,
“but you’ve got to also have that extra element there,” he added.

Jason then turned his attention to his younger brother.

“Trav, year 13. I don’t know how many more you got left. How are you approaching this season?,” the retired Philadelphia Eagles center asked.

I just love coming into work with these guys right here,” Travis replied, adding that the culture of the Chiefs organization “has become my way of life.”

He added, “The expectations every single year, year in and year out, is Super Bowl or failure. And the eye in the sky doesn’t lie, baby. You see those first two games, and we were a few plays here and there, a few decisions here and there away from being an undefeated football team.”
The Chiefs kicked off their season in Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 5, losing 27-21. In week 2, Kansas City hosted the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch, but ultimately fell 20-17.

Their first win of the season came in week 3 against the New York Giants, and the Chiefs kept their win streak rolling the following week, squashing the Baltimore Ravens 37-20 at Arrowhead Stadium.

On Monday, Oct. 6, the Chiefs will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road. The full interview with Kelce, Mahomes and Reid will air on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown at 6 p.m. ET.