5 NFL players who cement their Hall of Fame legacy in 2020
By John Buhler
4. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. TE. Kansas City Chiefs. Travis Kelce. player. 124
It feels like it’s already been established, but we’ll have zero doubts where Travis Kelce‘s football career ends up. While his older brother in Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce may one day join him in Canton, the Kansas City Chiefs‘ perennial Pro Bowl tight end removes all doubt he’s getting in after another stellar campaign in 2020. It’s great having Patrick Mahomes throw you the ball.
It’s not that we never thought Kelce didn’t belong in the hall of fame, but 2020 will be the year we stop to smell the roses and realize the best tight end in football has earned himself a gold jacket. Pro Football Reference has Kelce with a Hall of Fame Monitor score of 61.40. He’s within two points of breaking the theoretical threshold held by Chicago Bears legend Mike Ditka.
The only eligible tight end above The Ditka Line who isn’t in is the recently deceased Pete Retzlaff of Philadelphia Eagles fame. Kelce will be 31-years-old this season and should have a few more Pro Bowls under his belt before his athleticism leaves him. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro made the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and capped off the decade with a Super Bowl ring.
It remains to be seen who high up the tight end pecking order Kelce will climb. To think he’ll get into Tony Gonzalez territory is a bit of a stretch. However, if he has five more years of healthy ball left in the tank, he could approach Antonio Gates, Shannon Sharpe or Rob Gronkowski territory. Another season of around 1,000 receiving yards earns Kelce a gold jacket in the future for sure.