Travis Kelce has come out of the gates strong for the Kansas City Chiefs this season, and teammate Noah Gray has noticed the difference.

Kelce leads the NFL with 155 yards after the catch and ranks second among tight ends with 231 receiving yards. He has also caught two touchdown passes, continuing to be a major part of Kansas City's offense.

“Yeah, he’s flying around. I told him the other day, he looked like he was 27. He is a great leader. He’s a guy that comes in to work. He’s another extremely humble dude, always willing to help out and whatever you need,” Noah Gray said on October 3.

Kelce's start has also helped create opportunities for Gray. During Kansas City's 24-10 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Gray caught three passes for 39 yards, his highest receiving total in a game since November 2024.

“He’s just a guy that uplifts you, you know. When you show up to work, and you got a guy like that, a leader like that in the locker room, makes you want to go out there in practice," Noah Gray said to the reporters on October 3.

His biggest play came on a 24-yard reception while being tightly covered. The catch came during the Chiefs' final touchdown drive.

"When you don’t want to, even when you’re tired, there’s a lot going on, you’re in the middle of the season and he’s just a guy that uplifts your spirit,” Gray added.

The Chiefs drafted Gray in the fifth round in 2021. He has since contributed as Kelce's backup, a fullback and a special-teams player.

His best receiving season was 2024, when he recorded 40 catches for 437 yards and five touchdowns before signing a three-year, $18 million extension with $10.1 million guaranteed.

Kelce isn't the only Chief making an impact, with rookie Kahlil Benson also stepping up.

Why is Travis Kelce celebrating a Chiefs rookie’s latest achievement?

Kahlil Benson has quickly gone from an undrafted rookie to an important part of the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line.

Benson has started all three games at left tackle and has yet to allow a sack while protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. His start earned him AFC Offensive Rookie of the Month honors for September, making him only the eighth offensive lineman to receive the award.

“🗣Yeahhhh Rook!!” Kelce wrote, according to Heavy.

Benson is the first Chiefs player to win Rookie of the Month since Nick Bolton in October 2021 and the team’s first offensive player to receive it since Kareem Hunt in December 2017.

His rise has come as Kansas City sits at 3-0. Mahomes has thrown for 812 yards and seven touchdowns through three games, while Kelce has 14 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns.

“Kahlil’s a rookie, and every day is a brand-new day,” Bieniemy said. “You’re going to have some good moments… and you’re going to have some bad moments.”

He added that Benson will have chances to learn from those situations as the season continues.

Written by

Debanjali Rakshit