Retirement talk? Later. Why Travis Kelce isn't yet discussing pro football future.

Blair Kerkhoff, The Kansas City Star on Dec 19, 2025

Published in Football

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The playoff possibilities ended too soon for the Chiefs, who entered the year in pursuit of a fourth straight Super Bowl appearance.

But with three games remaining and no postseason to pursue, tight end Travis Kelce said he won’t allow himself to lack incentive.

“It’s just integrity, man,” said Kelce, who met with reporters at the team’s practice facility on Friday. “I signed up to be a Kansas City Chief. I love doing what I do. I’ve been dreaming of being in these moments and playing for an NFL team since I was a kid.

“And I think the integrity of being a man about your work and giving everybody your devoted attention and your sense of urgency to be at your best for them, I think that’s just how you need to go about work, whether you’re in the (playoff) race or not.”

The Chiefs are not because last Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers dropped them to 6-8 and eliminated them from postseason contention for the first time since 2014.

That was Kelce’s second year in the NFL, his first as an impactful player. He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl that season and has been ever since.

At age 36, he is having a productive 2025 season, leading the Chiefs with 67 receptions and 797 yards. With a strong finish, he has a chance to become the oldest tight end to post a 1,000-yard season.

But not reaching the playoffs, and having lost quarterback and friend Patrick Mahomes to a season-ending torn ACL late in last week’s defeat, has been devastating.

“Just the absolute dagger into the back, knowing how the season ended for One Five,” Kelce said in reference to Mahomes, who wears No. 15. “... (I)t looked like we were going to have a chance to maybe come out with a win and keep our (playoff) hopes alive.

“So, it just sucks, man.”

With retirement speculation swirling around Kelce, who is in the final season of his contract, he was asked if it had crossed his mind that he may have played his last game with Mahomes.

“I’d rather keep the focus off the media and everything on this team right now,” he said. “All the conversation I have with the team and everything moving forward will be with them.

“It’s a unique time in my life, and 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.”

Linebacker Nick Bolton hasn’t seen any less than a business-like approach from Kelce at practice this week.

“He’s been doing that his whole career, even before I got here,” Bolton said. “He’s always leading by example. First one there, last guy to leave. In terms of a leader, he’s doing everything the right way, holding everybody to a high standard.”

The competitive juices, Kelce reminded, will continue to flow through the season’s final three weeks.

“You could roll balls out in a Walmart parking lot,” he said. “Sign me up baby. I get a chance to play in the NFL.”