Chiefs’ Travis Kelce doesn’t get enough credit for one trait, Steelers coach says

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin went out of his way to praise Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce ahead of the teams’ Christmas Day matchup.

The reason? Tomlin, through his film study, was impressed by Kelce’s team-first actions.

“Can’t say enough about Kelce, man,” Tomlin said during his news conference Sunday. “He is a completely unselfish player. I don’t think that he gets enough credit for that.”

Kelce, 35, isn’t producing the same receiving numbers as his younger days. Through 15 games, he has 89 catches for 739 yards, with the latter trending to be the lowest total for a full season in his career.

The Chiefs are 14-1, however, with the best record in the NFL and two games clear of all competition in the AFC.

Tomlin sees Kelce as playing a significant role in that.

“He’s a big-time playmaker certainly, but some of the things that you see that he does without the ball in his hands — in some of their mesh (crossing) concepts — he’s a good rub-route guy for others in terms of getting them open,” Tomlin said.

The compliments didn’t stop there.

Tomlin highlighted that Kelce is excellent when Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes extends plays while finding open space for catches. He’s also been an asset with protection, Tomlin said, while helping out a KC offensive line that has struggled at times this year.

“He’s done an awesome job in terms of working his way out and chipping his way out in some one-dimensional pass circumstances,” Tomlin said. “That’s another reason why I’m really impressed with the unselfishness of his play.”

Kelce — in his own signature way — freed up a teammate during an important moment in the Chiefs’ 27-19 home win Saturday against the Houston Texans.

Late in the first half, Kelce saw man coverage from the Texans and instead of running the route designed for him, he decided to block the defender in charge of covering running back Samaje Perine.

The result was Perine breaking wide open down the sideline — and Mahomes hitting him for a 36-yard gain that set up a field goal.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday there’s a reason that Kelce has been voted a postseason team captain for the last few seasons.

“He’ll sacrifice for the cause, as they’d say,” Reid said. “I’m not telling you he doesn’t like to play and catch and do all that stuff. He loves that. But at the same time, he’s willing to help out everywhere.”