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Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is weighing in on Travis Kelce’s potential retirement following a disappointing 2025-2026 NFL season.
“I hope not, man,” said Jones about Kelce’s possible exit in a postgame interview after the Chiefs’ 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday, December 25. “We have just been through so much together, and Travis has been a pivotal part of this offense for so long, and he’s been like a brother … I hope this isn’t the last year. I hope he gives it one more year. Just one more.”
Rumors of Kelce’s retirement have been swirling around for weeks now, as fans speculate what the veteran tight end is deciding regarding his career.
The Chiefs have had a less-than-stellar season, currently with a 6-10 record. After appearing in five of the last six Super Bowls, Kansas City will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
“A whole lot of emotions,” Kelce, 36, told reporters after the game on Thursday, the Chiefs’ final home game of the season. “You’ve got everybody in the world watching you. You get to go out there with the young guys on primetime television. Young guys getting an opportunity to taste what this NFL life is like.”
Before Thursday’s game, Kelce told retired NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez that he had not yet made a decision about his career.
“I think I’m still searching for those answers,” he said in a pregame interview. “The way this ended with a sour taste in my mouth, I feel I need to make the right decision for me.”
Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Isiah Pacheco, and Patrick Mahomes Getty Images
He added, “I feel like I have a lot of love for this game. If I came back it’d just be to answer that flame that I still love this thing. If it was just Sundays, I could play till I was 50. Obviously, there’s so much that goes into it. Arrowhead being Arrowhead, the atmosphere [and] playing in front of them, those will be memories that I cherish [when] I’m old and gray. … It’s special, man, and I love playing for them.”
Kelce was considering retirement after the Chief’s 40-22 Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last season. He decided to return for his 12th NFL season.
His brother, former Eagles center Jason Kelce, said he doesn’t even know what Travis is going to do at the end of the season.
“I’m curious, too,” Jason said on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown broadcast on December 15. “In my opinion, to nail that decision, you have to step away from the game for a little bit. 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 next year.”
Through all the noise — and despite a season that is all but over for the Chiefs — Travis has made it clear that whatever decision he makes, he wants it to be made out of the spotlight for now.
“I think I’d rather just keep the focus of the media and everything on this team right now,” Travis said during a press conference earlier this month. “All the conversations that I have with the team and everything moving forward will be with them.”
