Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce produced a standout juke move against safety Alohi Gilman during one-on-one practice drills on Monday afternoon, demonstrating his sharpness ahead of his 14th NFL season.
The 36-year-old veteran, who is preparing for what may be his final professional football campaign, fooled Gilman with a shake-and-bake move that sent the defender into a different zip code and left Kelce wide open for an easy pitch-and-catch.
Gilman, a sixth-year NFL veteran safety and former Notre Dame college football player, was left completely out of position on the play, which would have made highlight reels had it occurred during a regular-season game.
Supporters mocked Gilman online while hyping up Kelce, a three-time Super Bowl champion who plays for the Kansas City franchise in the National Football League.
Fans quickly took to social media platform X to react to the practice clip of Kelce beating his teammate.
"73 years old and still snatching ankles, that's my goat right there," one user joked on X.
"DAMN I haven't seen Trav move like that in a few years," read another comment on the social network.
A third fan added, "I know I'm not a football player but I would've torn both ACLs trying to defend that....."
Another comment critical of the safety read, "Gilman is starting to show why he was the backup."
Scout Skepticism and Physical Conditioning Claims
The viral practice moment provided a promising sign from Kelce just days after reports claimed NFL scouts were skeptical about how impactful he could remain on the field.
NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported that talent evaluators in the league believe the veteran tight end is finished at the top level of American football.
"Kelce is done. That's over. What you saw last year, that's what he is," Canfora claimed that one NFL scout told him, according to Casino Guru News.
The brutal assessment arrived shortly after social media users claimed that Kelce had returned to Chiefs practice with a dad bod following a whirlwind summer.
Manhattan Wedding to Taylor Swift
Kelce's summer included high-profile personal milestones off the field with his partner, pop superstar Taylor Swift.
Kelce and Swift tied the knot in a star-studded ceremony in the center of Manhattan last month.
The couple were married in a lavish Madison Square Garden ceremony on July 3, preceding his return to team workouts.
Chiefs Playoff Miss and Team Leadership Goals
The 36-year-old tight end endured one of the toughest seasons of his NFL career last year, as the Kansas City Chiefs missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Last Wednesday afternoon, Kelce openly admitted that he felt partly to blame for the team's struggles and pledged to rectify those issues during his 14th NFL season.
When asked about what he wants to improve, Kelce said: "Just being a better leader."
"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," Kelce explained.
"There were things I could have done better in that regard," Kelce added.
Asked about how practice was going, he said: "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."
