The Kansas City Chiefs are paying tribute to Travis Kelce before what could be the final game of his NFL career.
The future Hall of Fame tight end has been quiet about his plans after this season, which is ending in disappointment for the defending AFC champions. The Chiefs were knocked out of playoff contention after a Week 15 loss, leaving Kelce with what could be one more game in his career.
While Kelce has put off questions about his retirement, he is still producing at a high level and just made a historic jump up in the NFL record books.
Chiefs Share Historic Achievement for Travis Kelce
After last week’s loss to the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs took to social media to honor a big achievement from Kelce. The tight end led the team with five receptions for 36 yards in the 20-13 loss on Christmas, with his stat line helping him move inside the top 10 all-time pass-catchers in the league.
“Travis Kelce now has the ninth-most receptions (1,077) of any player in NFL history,” the Chiefs announced in a post on X.
Kelce has a good chance to add to his total when the Chiefs travel to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders in their season finale. As SI.com’s Dominic Minchella noted, Kelce has been historically dominant against the Raiders across his career.
“Throughout his career, Kelce has played the Raiders 23 times, with his 24th time set for Sunday,” Minchella wrote. “Since 2014, Kelce has taken his game to the next level when going up against this division rival, surpassing 1,600 receiving yards in 131 receptions.”
But Kelce will be playing without friend and starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was lost to a season-ending torn ACL in the team’s playoff elimination loss in December.
Travis Kelce Remains Quiet on Plans for the Future
Kelce reportedly considered retirement after last season, but decided to come back in part to avenge the team’s blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. Kelce was asked after the team’s Christmas loss to the Broncos whether he planned to retire, but he was not ready to give a definitive answer.
âIâll let that be a decision Iâll make with my family, friends and the Chiefs organization when the time comes,â he said, via the Los Angeles Times.
But Kelce appeared to be in a reflective mood after the game, which could have been his last at Arrowhead Stadium.
âA whole lot of emotions,â Kelce told reporters after the game. âYouâve got everybody in the world watching you. You get to go out there with the young guys on prime-time television. Young guys getting an opportunity to taste what this NFL life is like.â
Kelce also shared some appreciation for the Chiefs fans who had supported him.
âYou only get a few of those where you get to stand there and appreciate 70,000 Chiefs fans cheering for you,â he explained. âI always embrace that moment.
âYou feel the generations of happiness and the love [the fans] have. Itâs a beautiful thing, man.â
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