Andy Reid Explains Why He Has to ‘Yank’ Travis Kelce Out of Practice During Chiefs Training Camp
Andy Reid Explains Why He Has to ‘Yank’ Travis Kelce Out of Practice During Chiefs Training Camp
Natasha DyeFri, August 21, 2026 at 6:09 PM UTC
0
Travis Kelce and Andy Reid in Las Vegas, NevadaCredit: Jeff Bottari/Getty -
Andy Reid told reporters on the last day of Chiefs training camp on Aug. 20 that he’s had to “yank” Travis Kelce out of practice
“He’s the oldest guy on the team and came out every day and worked to where you had to yank him out of there to give him a breather,” Reid said
The Chiefs start their 2026 season with a home game against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14
Travis Kelce may be in his 14th NFL season, but Andy Reid still has to “yank” him out of practice at times.
Reid, 68, spoke to reporters as the Kansas City Chiefs concluded their 2026 training camp on Thursday, Aug. 20, and revealed that his longtime tight end works so hard he’s needed to pull him out of practices.
“You have examples like Kelce, he’s the oldest guy on the team and came out every day and worked to where you had to yank him out of there to give him a breather,” Reid told reporters.
Linebacker Nick Bolton also praised Kelce, 36, after Chiefs camp concluded. Bolton, 26, said, “There’s no excuses when you have the old guy out there running routes and stuff like that,” and added that it’s ”been fun to watch [Kelce] work.”
Travis Kelce on Aug. 15, 2026 in Kansas CityCredit: Jamie Squire/Getty
In addition to praise for Kelce, the Chiefs head coach singled out his appreciation for quarterback Patrick Mahomes for “doing what he did with his knee” after the NFL star rehabbed his torn ACL.
Advertisement
Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE’s free sports newsletter — sign up now!
“They worked hard, and I appreciated that. I thought we made progress,” Reid said of the Chiefs’ camp.
On Aug. 12, Kelce spoke about his goal of being a “better leader” this season during a press conference. He told reporters, “When we get stuck, with adversity hitting, who’s going to want you in that foxhole with you? That’s one of those things, I want to be one of those guys that everybody counts on to be there and get us out of that foxhole.”
Reflecting on the Chiefs’ disappointing end to their 2025 season, Kelce said, “There were things I could have done better in that regard,” adding, “I feel ready to rock and roll. Just trying to make sure I set that example for the guys around me, that this is the standard.”
The Chiefs play two more preseason games, first against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then the Seattle Seahawks, before the start of the regular season when they’ll host the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 14.
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
