KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Travis Kelce traveled the world during the offseason, following his girlfriend, pop superstar Taylor Swift, to numerous stops on her Eras Tour. He appeared on television, made guest appearances at some of the world’s biggest sporting events and continued to produce his popular podcast with his brother, former Eagles center Jason Kelce.

The Chiefs tight end has never been busier. He’s never had to juggle more, and there have never been more eyes watching everything he does.

All of this makes the Chiefs’ training facility, along with Arrowhead Stadium, which is just up the hill and stretches across a large number of parking lots, a sanctuary of sorts where Kelce can let loose with some of his closest confidants.

“I just love football and how it distracts me from everyday life,” Kelce said on Tuesday, two days before the Kansas Chiefs face the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of their AFC championship game and officially lift the lid on the The NFL regular season.

“It gives me something to really get excited about,” Kelce continued. “I enjoy coming into the building, working on my craft, understanding a new game plan and perfecting it for the people around me. It gives me a purpose to spend my day and live my life. And I’m just so excited about what I do.”

In fact, Kelce was unmistakably buoyant after Tuesday’s practice, and not just because he came through it healthy; at the same practice a year ago, he strained his knee, which forced him to sit out Week 1 against Detroit.

Kelce, who turns 35 next month, has his eye on history.

He needs just three more touchdowns to pass Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez and set the franchise record. He needs 10 caught balls to pass Gonzalez and set that career record. With seven touchdowns, Kelce would pass Priest Holmes for the most touchdowns in his Kansas City career. And he’s already the franchise leader with 11,328 caught yards.

And then there is the most important piece of history, at least as far as Kelce is concerned: The Chiefs are striving a record: the third Super Bowl title in a rowwhich would earn him his fourth ring within six years.

“I’ve been lucky to be able to play so many games,” he said. “That’s why I love going out every day, even if it’s just training, to work on my skills. Because not everyone is as lucky in their career.”

Kelce doesn’t know when he’ll quit. He insists he’s having too much fun right now to even think about it. But the last few weeks alone underscore how diverse his interests off the field have become.

As he prepared for Week 1 against Baltimore, Kelce’s representatives – along with those of his brother – were there to a three-year contract with Amazon’s Wondery The deal is reportedly worth nine figures for exclusive advertising sales and distribution rights to her podcast, New Heights. The deal includes her back catalog of podcast content, as well as exclusive rights to monetize and distribute audio and video episodes starting this season.

On the same day the news broke, Barry Irwin, founder and CEO of Team Valor International, announced that Kelce recently acquired a significant stake in a 3-year-old gelding named — matching or random — Fast delivery.

“It’s very exciting,” Irwin said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. “I met him at the Kentucky Derby and spent some time with him and stuff, and we talked about horses and everything. When this horse came to light and it was already owned by one of my partners, I thought this must be a no-brainer with the name.”

Kelce’s coaches and teammates – especially quarterback Patrick Mahomes, one of his best friends – marvel at his ability to pigeonhole everything that happens in his life, and they also marvel at his continued performance on the field.

Although there were moments last season when it looked like Kelce had lost something, he still caught 93 passes for 984 yards and scored five touchdowns. Then came the playoffs, where he had 32 catches for 355 yards and three TDs in just four games.

It’s hard to step back – whenever that may happen – as the Chiefs remain the dominant franchise in the NFL.

“You have off days where it might be a little tougher,” Kelce said, “but who doesn’t, man? Everyone has those days. But you have to understand that the team’s goal is bigger than you, and everyone needs you at your best. And my college coach, Butch Jones, always told me, ‘You’re either a resource or a liability.’ You don’t want to be a burden on anyone.”

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AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno in Washington contributed to this report.

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