Calling Travis Kelce the best tight end in the NFL is not a shocking opinion, especially after he earned his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl selection and captured his second Super Bowl championship. However, that claim carries extra significance when it comes from a Hall of Fame tight end. During a recent appearance on Kelce’s podcast, FOX Sports analyst and former NFL star Shannon Sharpe explained why he believes Kelce stands above everyone else at the position.
Sharpe, who won three Super Bowls during his career with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, pointed to Kelce’s ability to deliver in pressure-filled moments as the key difference. According to Sharpe, Kelce consistently rises to the occasion when the stakes are highest and everyone expects the ball to come his way.
Sharpe told Travis’s brother and co-host, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, that Kelce thrives when the moment is biggest. He explained that Patrick Mahomes, the opposing defense, and even tens of thousands of fans all know who Mahomes is likely targeting in critical situations — yet Kelce still manages to make the play. In Sharpe’s view, it’s hard to argue against Kelce being the greatest tight end once his career is complete.
Jason Kelce reminded Sharpe that earlier in the previous season, Sharpe had said Travis would earn that title if he won a second Super Bowl. After the Chiefs did exactly that, Sharpe reaffirmed his stance. He emphasized Kelce’s consistent 1,000-yard seasons along with his impressive playoff performances, saying that the combination of regular-season production and postseason success makes the case clear.
Sharpe also noted that fans rarely finish watching a Chiefs playoff game thinking Kelce had a poor performance. Travis responded with a laugh, mentioning one exception — a 2017 wild-card game against the Tennessee Titans, when he suffered a concussion and was unable to contribute much in the second half.
When Sharpe asked if he remembered the game, Kelce admitted he didn’t, joking that the concussion left him with no memory of it.
