Death, taxes, and Salvador Perez leading games for the Kansas City Royals. That has been the status quo for the past 15 years, and that will continue to be the case for as long as he wants to keep playing.
In the meantime, the Kansas City Chiefs have also had a veteran to turn to. Travis Kelce has been a mainstay in the passing game for the past 13 years, and the franchise will continue to embrace him with open arms for as long as he wants to lace them up.
Kelce is approaching what will most likely be his final season in the league, and Perez, while still durable, might not be out there for much longer, either. Looking back, they will leave similar legacies behind in KC sports history.
Salvador Perez and Travis Kelce: Two legends in the twilight of their careers
A little over a decade ago, Salvador Perez led the Royals to a 2015 World Series victory, earning series MVP honors for the first -- and so far, only -- time in his career. He remained one of the hardest-hitting and most productive catchers in the game, even raking a league-best 48 home runs and 121 RBIs in 2021.
And just next door to Kauffman Stadium, Travis Kelce was emerging as a star the same year in 2015, earning his first career Pro Bowl but still somewhat far behind from what he'd ultimately accomplish. Five years later, just one year before Salvador's career-best season, he established himself as the best tight end in the game, registering 1,416 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns, and a league-leading 79 first downs.
Perez and Kelce were both the best in their respective positions for years. They both could've left for brighter lights and bigger markets, but they chose to stay faithful to their teams through thick and thin, realizing it would be more valuable to build an everlasting legacy in one place rather than hop around the league.
They both made Chiefs and Royals fans alike believe and cry tears of joy by doing what seemed impossible at the time. They didn't join a contending team; they made their teams contend. Now, they're both walking the final steps of their respective careers, and while their best years are on the horizon, they can still play a crucial role.
Both are proven veterans. They're vocal leaders and glue guys on and off the field. Competitors who will never allow their teammates to throw in the towel. Even when they're not posting MVP-caliber numbers, their impact can be felt all through the organization.
Travis Kelce and Salvador Perez are irreplaceable pieces of their teams, on the field, in the locker room among teammates, around the facility, and to entire fanbases. Their exits will leave a hole that both the Royals and Chiefs will have to deal with once they finally ride into the sunset. They've set the bar way too high.
It's easy to forget how good you have something until it's gone, and that's something the fans must keep in mind when the record may not mirror the two legends that you still see competing on the field. Perez and Kelce deserve unconditional love and admiration as true KC legends, regardless of whether or not they can still reach the echelon of greatness they once achieved.
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