Travis Kelce sidesteps retirement questions for now as speculation continues to swirl around the Chiefs star’s future following a turbulent season.
Travis Kelce is keeping his lips sealed for now.
When the 10-time Pro Bowler was asked Friday about his future plans after the Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs last week, Kelce kept his thoughts to himself.
“I’d rather keep the focus on this team, right now,” he said, per ESPN. “All the conversations I have with the team moving forward will be with them. It’s a unique time in my life. I’ve got three games left & I know when the season ends.”
At 36 and with a wedding on the way with worldwide pop star Taylor Swift, the question has lingered if Kelce will return for another season.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce walks off the field after a game.
After the Chiefs lost to the Eagles in Super Bowl 2025 in February, Kelce vowed not to go on such a sour note.
While not the Super Bowl, Sunday’s Week 15 loss to the Chargers saw Kansas City knocked out of playoff contention for the first time since 2014, a bitter note in what’s been a frustrating season.
Additionally, Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL tear and won’t be under center for the remaining three games. In his place will be Gardner Minshew.
“We lost our quarterback, man, Patty Mahomes, our guy, our brother, our fearless leader, our face of the franchise to an ACL,” Kelce said on Wednesday during an episode of the “New Heights” podcast to his brother and co-host Jason Kelce after the tight end skirted reporters in the postgame access on Sunday.
Kelce had seven receptions of nine targets for 70 yards against the Chargers.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) catches a pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
On top of the team issues, Kelce has struggled to find his usual groove. This season, the three-time Super Bowl winner has racked up 797 yards off 67 receptions. He had seven consecutive 1,000-plus yard seasons from 2016-22.
Still, he isn’t ready to give up on the season, even if it may be his last — and his career could end without two-time MVP Mahomes on the field.
“Chiefs Kingdom, we’re going to give it everything we’ve got,” Kelce declared on the podcast. “There’s no question about that. There’s only one way I do things, there’s only one way coach [Andy] Reid does things, and if we’re going to go out there and play some football, we’re going to do it the right way and keep trying to get these things fixed and end on the highest note that we can.
“If there’s a game to be had, baby, I’m going to go out there and I’m going to love f–king playing in it,” he added. “No matter if it’s a game that gets us into the playoffs, or a game that seems like it doesn’t have any implications. That’s the integrity you got to go out there with.”
