Travis Kelce cut a somber figure after the Kansas City Chiefs’ season came to an abrupt end, and the images quickly fueled speculation about his future in the NFL. The 36-year-old tight end walked slowly off the field following the Chiefs’ must-win loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Dec. 14, helmet in hand and frustration clearly visible. As questions swirl about whether one of the league’s most accomplished players is nearing retirement, teammates, insiders, and analysts are beginning to weigh in.
Travis Kelce’s Emotional Exit Sparks Retirement Talk
A video shared on X showed Kelce hanging his head as he made his way to the locker room, at one point lightly hitting a wall in frustration as the reality of the loss set in. Kelce declined to speak with reporters after the game, telling them, “It’s not the time.” According to The Athletic reporter Jesse Newell, Kelce passed on media requests twice before adding, “I’ll catch you guys during the week.”
The loss stung Chiefs fans on multiple levels. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a devastating injury late in the game while Kansas City trailed by just three points. An MRI later confirmed that Mahomes, 30, tore the ACL in his left knee, a development that cast immediate uncertainty over the franchise’s short-term future.
As for Kelce, the tight end has already acknowledged that retirement conversations are unavoidable. In November, he explained that he wants to be transparent with the organization if he plans to step away, giving the Chiefs time to adjust their roster plans.
“Like, whether they want me back or not, it’s one of those things where I’d like to make that decision before they’ve got to get draft picks and free agency opens up,” Kelce told reporters.
Jason Kelce Shares Advice From His Own Retirement Experience
Few people understand what Travis may be facing better than his older brother, Jason. The former Philadelphia Eagles center retired in March 2024 after a Hall of Fame-worthy career, and he addressed his brother’s situation during an appearance on Monday Night Countdown.
“I think everybody is probably curious about what your brother will do,” Scott Van Pelt said to Jason. “You went through the process. And I understand he’ll have a process to go through. Is there a sense about how he’ll approach that?”
Jason admitted he is still curious himself but emphasized patience and perspective when making such a life-altering decision.
“In my opinion, to nail that decision, you gotta step away from the game for a little bit,” Jason said. “Play these last three games. Enjoy them with your teammates, enjoy them with your coaches. The team’s going to be different no matter whether you come back or not this year. So, enjoy these last three games. And then let it sink in.”
Jason also pointed out how emotionally charged the end of a season can be, especially one filled with narrow losses.
“There’s so many emotions with this game, right after a season,” he said. “Especially with the way this has been. It’s been so up and down. I mean, they’re 1-7 in one-score games. You gotta step away from it. You gotta think about it. And then, yeah, it will come to you.”
NFL Insiders and Legends Offer Differing Views on Travis Kelce’s Retirement
Speculation intensified further when ESPN insider Adam Schefter discussed Kelce’s future on “The Pat McAfee Show.” Schefter stopped short of citing specific inside information but made it clear that retirement is a legitimate possibility.
“We’ll see what he ultimately decides at the end of the year,” Schefter said. “I think his future is very much up in the air. I think it’s distinctly possible that one of the greatest NFL connections of all time, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, may have played their last down together, which is hard to imagine, but that’s a real possibility here.”
McAfee echoed the sentiment while reflecting on the duo’s dominance. “We’ll always remember the great times,” McAfee said. “God, they were so good,” adding that everyone involved would support Kelce regardless of his decision.
NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter offered a more blunt assessment during an appearance on “Up and Adams with Kay Adams.” Carter suggested that recent performance trends point toward the end.
“He’s done,” Carter said. “I see him performing on stages more so than I do on NFL fields. He has no ability to be able to separate all his savviness and everything. When you don’t have an elite receiver outside and you don’t have an elite running game, you can’t hide that.”
Carter framed the decline as a reality every great player eventually faces.
“This is the way we all look at the end of our careers,” Carter said. “You go back and look at year number 16, Cris Carter playing with the Dolphins. You’re going to throw up. You’re going to get sick. It happens. But it’s a reality.”
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