Chiefs: The TAO of Travis Kelce

Laddie Morse

Note: By using he word “TAO” I’m in no way making light of the Taoists or the TAO. This is simply to point out that Travis Kelce has come to be much more than a football player in Kansas City.

Merriam-Websters offers four basic definitions of “tao” so we’ll use those for our categories.

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often not capitalized : the art or skill of doing something in harmony with the essential nature of the thing

Travis Kelce does much more than just “give” through his foundation… he does so in the place where he first grew up. The foundation’s mission statement reads: “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. We seek to change the outcomes of underserved youth in communities across the U.S. by creating access to opportunities, enrichment, and advancement.” What drew my attention most was this quote from Julianna Johnson Senturia, Executive Director of Heights Schools Foundation:

“Travis Kelce has been giving back to his hometown schools, and we are grateful. Because of his generosity, more than 2,300 children have had access o remote learning support, after school enrichment, tutoring programs, and inspirational speakers. He’s setting an amazing example for our kids and for our alumni.”

I’m convinced that it is Kelce’s nature to give back and that may be why he once threw a flag back a a referee.. hehe.

Which leads us to the next taoist definition:

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the process of nature by which all things change and which is to be followed for a life of harmony

Travis Kelce has matured since he took a white towel out of his own pocket and threw it at a referee for throwing a yellow penalty flag at him in the middle of a game. It’s kind of funny when you think about it.

Kelce is a man of wide thought, universal acceptance and genuine love. Below is an article which focuses on his relationship with Kayla Nicole. Why they need to point out tha she is of a different race is beyond me, but it does show Kelce’s willingness to follow his heart no matter where it leads. In his piece called, “Travis Kelce’s Biracial Relationship with Stunning Girlfriend Who Is Ready to Be His Wife” they point out that Travis and Kayla broke up for a short while, but then got back together soon after. That points to redemption having a place in his life and well.

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the unconditional and unknowable source and guiding principle of all reality [as conceived by Taoists]

Robert O’Connell of SI.com writes a piece called: “The Kelce Brothers Fuel Each Other’s Greatness” in which he quotes both Kelce brothers as saying:

“If I was on 25 other teams in the league, trying to run the plays that they’re running,” he [Jason Kelce, who plays OC for the Philadelphia Eagles] says, “I’d probably be an average-at-best center.”

Travis, the all-everything tight end for the Chiefs, is having none of his older brother’s modesty. “He’s gonna find a way to have success,” Travis says. “…. Don’t get it twisted. He knows how to play this game. And if it was a different style of game, he’d figure that one out too.”

Mutual, unconditional love and respect… a big part of Travis Kelce’s life.

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the path of virtuous conduct [as conceived by Confucians]

As is often the case, Travis Kelce brings attention to others:

Confucianism is having a good moral character that affects the world around that person through the idea of harmony. Kelce is good a that and gives his coach — and personal mentor — credit:

“Coach Reid always says ‘Feel like your 22 ‘Baby’”

I know some who believe Kelce will play for another 8 years. We in Chiefs Kingdom would be fortunate to witness that. His personal life speaks volumes. So does his play on he field. Here’s every catch by Kelce vs the Chargers on Thursday evening:

Robert Goldman said in his piece about Kelce called: “Chiefs TE Travis Kelce records 6th consecutive season with 1,000 yards receiving“

“Earlier this season, Kelce passed Rob Gronkowski for the fifth-most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history.  He reached 8,000 receiving yards faster than anyone else at the position too. Last season, he made NFL history when he recorded his fifth consecutive season with at least 1,000 receiving yards.”

Now, Kelce has 6 straight seasons of 1,000 yards receiving or more when no other TE in NFL history has more than three straight. Rob Gronkowski is a great TE. Tony Gonzalez is a great TE too. However, Kelce is the greatest TE of them all and Tony G admits Kelce could be one of the best TE’s ever when all is said and done:

“If he keeps his head on straight, he could go down as one of the best. He really can; I believe it. Just by watching how he plays and talking to him, you can just tell without even being in the locker room with him that he was a guy who was in the weight room all of the time; he was out there on the field working techniques, working hand movements, working catches on the jugs all the time.”

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Being a good human off the field has made all the difference in the world for Travis Kelce.

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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