Fans are not happy with the NFL...
NFL Under Fire for Forcing Travis Kelce Into Spotlight Again originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs made their way to Seattle on Friday, taking on the Seahawks in the second game of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Kelce, 35, coming off one of his worst statistical seasons, has entered the 13th season of his career, chasing one last Super Bowl win before hanging up his cleats.
But the former Cincinnati Bearcats tight end didn't see any action against the Seahawks despite playing a few snaps in the preseason opener.
Still, that didn't stop the NFL from putting Kelce under the spotlight on Friday night as he led his team out onto the field.
"Travis Kelce leading the team out before the game😤," the NFL posted on Instagram. "the gloves & cleats combo 😮💨."
Fans React to NFL's Kelce Post
NFL fans were also unpleased that the NFL forced Kelce into a post, especially since he wasn't playing. They took to the Instagram comments to leave their thoughts.
"Holy (expletive) glaze NFL," one fan said.
"NFL starting early with the glazing…" added another.
"Media is pushing chiefs again😒," wrote a third.
"next level glazing," claimed a fourth.
"GIVE IT A REST," commented a fifth.
"Definitely getting booed. Nice try NFL," added a sixth.
The Attention Around Travis Kelce Shows No Signs of Slowing
As Kelce begins his 13th NFL season, he also hit a milestone with his “New Heights” podcast. His girlfriend, Taylor Swift, used the show to announce her 13th studio album, an episode that drew nearly 500 million total views.
Swift has certainly amplified the spotlight on Kelce and the Chiefs. Last season alone, the “Bad Blood” singer attended 13 games, including the playoffs, helping Kansas City average 22.07 million viewers per game. This ranked third in the league behind just the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.
And with his retirement looming, fans will likely keep tuning in to watch the star tight end while they still can.
Kelce and the Chiefs will kick off the regular season on September 5, battling AFC West foe Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Related: Travis Kelce Draws Attention With $9,000 Outfit For Chiefs-Seahawks Game
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
