Tom Brady Tears Into Kansas City Chiefs’ Third-String Defense and Newly Engaged Travis Kelce To Taylor Swift, Claiming the Veteran Tight End Is “No Longer Up to Standard” and Should Be Dropped After Disastrous Showing Against Chargers in Brazil

Tom Brady Blasts Chiefs’ Defense and Travis Kelce After Disappointing Loss in Brazil

NFL legend Tom Brady did not hold back his criticism of the Kansas City Chiefs following their 27-21 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. Speaking on a post-game podcast appearance, Brady targeted both the Chiefs’ struggling third-string defense and veteran tight end Travis Kelce, who recently announced his engagement.

“This isn’t the Chiefs team that dominated the league,” Brady said bluntly. “Their defense looked lost out there, especially the third group. And Kelce? He’s not the player he used to be. At this stage, if you’re not producing, you shouldn’t be on the field — engagement or not.”

The comments come after a rough outing for Kansas City. The defense failed to contain Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who threw for three touchdowns, while the Chiefs’ secondary gave up multiple deep plays. Kelce, meanwhile, managed just three catches for 28 yards, his lowest output of the season, and was visibly frustrated on the sideline.

Brady went further, suggesting Kelce’s off-field commitments may be affecting his performance. “Football requires total focus. If you’re distracted, the team suffers. Right now, Kelce is not up to standard. If I were coaching, I’d sit him until he finds that fire again.”

The sharp remarks have sparked debate among analysts and fans. Some agree that Kelce, at 35, is beginning to show signs of decline, while others argue Brady’s words were unnecessarily harsh, especially considering the tight end’s long-standing contributions to the Chiefs’ dynasty.

For Kansas City, the loss in Brazil marks an early setback in their season. Head coach Andy Reid defended his star player, saying: “Travis has been the backbone of this team for years. Everyone has tough games. We’ll fix the mistakes and move forward.”

Still, Brady’s critique has added fuel to growing concerns about the Chiefs’ ability to remain dominant as rivals strengthen. Whether Kelce rebounds or the Chiefs make lineup changes could shape the rest of their campaign.