Kelce, 34, was observed smoking and checking his phone as he entered the Chiefs’ practice facility on Wednesday.

The tight end, who recently estimated that a significant percentage of active NFL players use marijuana, is no stranger to controversy.

The NFL raised the threshold for a positive marijuana test from 35 nanograms to 150 in 2021 and eliminated testing for it during the season. Many states across the US have also legalized or decriminalized marijuana in recent years, reflecting changing societal attitudes.

During an interview earlier this season with Natl, Kelce stated, “If you just stop in mid-July, you’ll be fine. A lot of guys stopped the week before, and they still get through because everyone is training in the heat and sweating. No one is really affected by that anymore.”

Kelce chose not to play in the Chiefs’ final regular-season game against the Chargers, despite being just 16 yards away from recording an eighth straight 1,000-yard season. The decision raised eyebrows, but Coach Andy Reid explained that Kelce had ruled himself out to stay fresh for the playoffs.

“Travis is a humble guy. He didn’t want to appear mean or selfish. Most guys would go out and do it, but he said, ‘I have so many records; I’m not going to do it this way,’” Reid explained after Sunday’s win against the Chargers.

The Chiefs, last season’s Super Bowl champions, will face the Miami Dolphins at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night when the playoffs begin. Despite defeating the Dolphins in a November regular-season match, the Chiefs have faced challenges in their recent games, losing five of their last eight.

Kelce, who missed the first game of the season due to a knee issue, has played every game since, though he admitted in an interview with the Wall Street Journal earlier this season that he rarely discusses the pain and discomfort associated with injuries in the NFL.

As the Chiefs gear up for the playoffs, Kelce’s unconventional pre-playoff ritual adds an intriguing layer to the team’s narrative as they aim to defend their Super Bowl title.