
Travis Kelce passes Jason Witten with 59-yard catch in Chiefs opener
Kelce's second catch against Denver moved him to 13,067 career receiving yards, second among tight ends behind Tony Gonzalez.
By Chuck Sports Desk / 2 sources / Published September 15, 2026
Travis Kelce needed 45 receiving yards to pass Jason Witten for second place on the NFL's all-time tight-end receiving list. He cleared the mark Monday night with a 59-yard Patrick Mahomes completion in the third quarter of Kansas City's 31-10 win over Denver.
Kelce finished with three catches for 71 yards, and the Chiefs' official player log lists a 59-yard long. NFL's postgame report placed Kelce at 13,067 career receiving yards, ahead of Witten's 13,046 and behind only Tony Gonzalez's 15,127. Kansas City's official video shows the catch.
The milestone arrived on a night when Kansas City controlled the game. Kenneth Walker III ran for 173 yards and a touchdown in his Chiefs debut, Mahomes threw two touchdown passes, and Denver never recovered after falling behind. Kelce's catch was the defining individual moment of the opener.
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Kelce is now second on the all-time tight-end receiving list. Gonzalez remains the only player ahead of him, leaving the Chiefs star with one historical target still in front of him.
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