Travis Kelce Overtakes Reggie Wayne in All-Time Receptions List in His Last Possible Game at Arrowhead

On the day the Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Denver Broncos, Travis Kelce overtook Reggie Wayne in most receptions made.

Travis Kelce Overtakes Reggie Wayne in All-Time Receptions List in His Last Possible Game at Arrowhead

Reggie Wayne and Travis Kelce (Image via ESPN/IMAGO)

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In the same week that Travis Kelce earned a Pro Bowl selection, he also secured a place among the top 10 all-time reception leaders. Kelce isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, even at 36.

December hasn’t been too kind to Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs. For just the second time in his NFL career (not counting his rookie year), he’ll miss out on playoff football, the last time being in 2014, after the team was eliminated from contention with a Week 15 loss to the Chargers.

So, the remaining games became moot. Not for Kelce, as he suited up for the Christmas Day game against the Denver Broncos in front of the home crowd. With his fourth catch, Kelce surpassed Hall of Fame wide receiver Reggie Wayne, reaching 1,071 receptions compared to Wayne’s 1,070, and he did it in 21 fewer games.

Kelce’s night ended with 5 total catches (1072 receptions in 190 appearances) and 36 yards, with 14 yards being his best gain on the fourth reception. He now has the 10th most receptions in NFL history.

The only tight end who caught more passes during their NFL career is Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez wrapped up his 17-year career with 1,325 catches and added 59 more appearances to his record.

Kelce sat down with Gonzalez on Christmas Eve to tackle the “elephant in the room” – the rumors about his retirement. The 3x Super Bowl champion revealed that he would think about his future during the offseason.

I think I’m still searching for those answers [on possible retirement]. Obviously, the way the season has ended with a sour taste in my mouth. I feel motivated, but I gotta make the right decision for me.

Travis Kelce said

Travis Kelce selected for the Pro Bowl

Kelce has lately been a history maker. While playing against the Tennessee Titans last week, he matched Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice’s record of 12 seasons with at least 800 receiving yards.

Travis Kelce Overtakes Reggie Wayne in All-Time Receptions List in His Last Possible Game at Arrowhead
Travis Kelce (Image via IMAGO)

Ironically, he had just one catch for six total yards, and it proved sufficient enough to match Rice’s record. A few days later, the NFL announced the names of the players selected for the Pro Bowl.

Kelce is the only skill position player to receive a Pro Bowl nod on the Chiefs team. He led the voting process with 420,383 votes, nearly double that of the reigning NFL MVP and Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Kelce rightfully deserved the recognition. He leads the Chiefs’ receivers with 73 receptions for 839 yards and 5 touchdowns in 16 games. He’s now tied with ex-Cowboy Jason Witten on 11 Pro Bowl selections.

Guard Trey Smith, center Creed Humphrey, and DT Chris Jones were the other three names on the list. However, Jones wasn’t thrilled by the announcement.

None of it really matters. I play to win rings, man. It’s never been my goal to make Pro Bowls. I missed the Pro Bowl with 15.5 sacks, so it just shows you how the Pro Bowl is.

Chris Jones said

The Chiefs also nominated Kelce for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his charitable work in the community through the Eighty Seven & Running Foundation. According to their website, it’s “a nonprofit organization he founded in 2015 that aims to empower disadvantaged youth to achieve success by providing resources and support to their communities and cultivating their talent in the areas of education, business, athletics, STEM, and the arts.”

To be chosen as the team’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year is such a great honor. I have so much love for Kansas City and the Chiefs organization, and to be selected once again means everything to me.

Kelce said in a statement

Kelce’s two-year contract with the Chiefs concludes at the end of the current campaign. He’s still unsure about his future, but if he decides to return, the Chiefs should welcome him back with open arms.

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