Without saying a word, Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Taylor Swift taught boyfriend Travis Kelce a hard lesson about success

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, usually one of the most eye-catching stars on any football field, hasn't done much so far this season. He totaled just 69 yards in the Chiefs' first three games. In fact, the Chiefs' previous game against the Cincinnati Bengals ended Kelce's 114-game streak of making at least three catches per game. As Sports IllustratedAs Andy Nesbitt put it, “Kelce hasn't yet become the weapon we're used to in the KC offense.” Perhaps that's why Kelce was seen sitting on the sidelines during last Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons and looked very dejected.

According to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, there is a simple explanation for Kelce's lack of performance so far this season, and every leader should pay attention because it reveals an unfortunate truth about success in most areas. The more successful you are and the more well-known you are, the more you become a target for your competition and anyone else with any agenda. Of course, Kelce is probably the most famous soccer player in the world right now, in part because of his spectacular performance on the gridiron and mostly because of his romantic relationship with Taylor Swift. And it's even more visible than usual at the moment thanks to the FX series grotesquein which he plays an important role, was released a few days ago.

And so, in a Chiefs postgame press conference, Mahomes explained that Kelce was playing with a target on his back. “We call a lot of games for Travis, and it's like two or three people go to him,” Mahomes said. Luckily, he added, Kelce has the right attitude. “He understands,” Mahomes said. “He wants to have an impact on the game, but at the end of the day he wants to win.”

The Kelce pile-on has opened up new opportunities for other Chiefs offensive players to shine, including wide receiver Rashee Rice, who had 12 catches for 110 yards against the Falcons, and rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who played in his first ever NFL game two touchdowns scored game. That's partly why the Chiefs have managed to do a lot without Kelce, winning all three games so far this season, albeit sometimes by very narrow margins. “People really care about taking (Kelce) away, and that means opening up other guys,” Mahomes said. As those other offensive players continue to make a name for themselves, opposing teams will also start to defend against them, and that could open up more opportunities for Kelce, he added. It will be interesting to see if that happens in today's game against the Los Angeles Chargers.