Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has gone quiet amid the team’s late-season swoon, leading to some criticism in what could be the final stretch of his career.
Kelce has taken to skipping media availability after recent losses, which could put him in danger of facing NFL punishment. The league mandates that players make themselves available to the media following games, but Kelce has declined media requests and not spoken to reporters until later in the week.
Though the league has decided against fining Kelce for either of his last two games, the tight end is still facing mounting criticism from reporters — especially after Sunday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Travis Kelce Getting Pushback for Media Decision
The Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention with last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and hit a new low on Sunday, losing to the previously two-win Titans. While it was not clear if he actively turned down requests, Kelce didn’t join the postgame press conference after the Titans loss.
Chiefs reporter Pete Mundo called out Kelce for his decision to continually skip out on the obligation to speak to reporters.
“WILL TRAVIS KELCE TALK TO THE MEDIA AFTER THIS LOSS? -200 odds he passes, per usual, after a loss. Hope I’m wrong,” Mundo wrote.
Others called out Kelce, noting that a team leader should show accountability by talking to reporters. But many others defended Kelce, noting that he does speak to reporters later in the week and often discusses games on his “New Heights” podcast.
As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted last week, Kelce has put himself in trouble of facing NFL fines for his decision to skip media availability after the team’s games.
“Players have been fined in the past, if/when the failure to comply with media obligations becomes chronic, and if the media covering the team complains about it,” Florio wrote. “Sometimes, the media doesn’t make waves.”
Travis Kelce Addressing Retirement Questions
Kelce has not directly addressed questions about whether he could retire after this season. The tight end returned for the final year of his contract with the Chiefs, reportedly motivated to return and avenge the team’s blowout loss in the Super Bowl.
But this season has instead been one of the most disappointing of his career, with the Chiefs facing playoff elimination in Week 15 and quarterback Patrick Mahomes going out with a season-ending torn ACL.
Speaking to media this week, Kelce said he wanted to focus on the next three games and delve much into what comes after that.
“I’d rather keep the focus of the media and everything on this team right now,” Kelce said via Pro Football Talk. “All the conversations I have with the team and everything moving forward will be with them. I think it’s a unique time in my life. Unfortunately I’ve got three games left and I know when the season ends this year. Typically we go into it and we don’t know when it’s going to end and that’s the beauty of it. Just trying to make sure that everybody here knows that I’m focused on trying to win football games, these last three games.”
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