Is Travis Kelce retiring? Chiefs star drops subtle hints about his NFL future

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Is Travis Kelce retiring? Chiefs star drops subtle hints about his NFL future

Liesel Nygard · MassLive

Thu, Dec 18, 2025 ·

3 min read

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The future of the Kansas City Chiefs is facing significant uncertainty.

Following Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending ACL tear while playing against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, star tight end Travis Kelce dropped subtle hints regarding retirement.

During a Dec. 17 episode of “ New Heights " — a podcast brothers Travis and Jason Kelce host about football, sports and pop culture — Travis Kelce spoke about the Chiefs’ future with a notable sense of detachment.

The first sign of a potential exit came while Kelce and his brother discussed Mahome’s recovery timeline.

Rather than using the inclusive “we,” Kelce spoke about the organization from an outsider’s perspective.

“You know, hopefully, the Chiefs can get him back as soon as possible,” Kelce told his brother, who retired from the NFL last year after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles . “I know right now it’s kind of right around that week one or the beginning of the season next year ... I know he’s gonna be doing everything he can to get back out on that field for the Chiefs as soon as possible.”

Jason Kelce further fueled the speculation, noting how there’s some uncertainty regarding the team’s roster for next year

“Next year, it’s gonna look different,” he said. “Guys are gonna be back. Guys aren’t gonna be back.”

The recent episode of “New Heights” comes two days after Jason Kelce was asked about Travis Kelce’s retirement plans on “Monday Night Countdown,” where he offered his brother some advice.

“In my opinion, to nail that decision, you gotta step away from the game for a little bit,” Jason Kelce said. “Play these last three games, enjoy them with your teammates, enjoy them with your coaches ... and then let it sink in. It’ll come to you with time. There are so many emotions with this game right after a season, especially with the way this one’s been.”

The former Eagles center continued, “Right now, it’s just too fresh ... You’ve gotta step away from it, you’ve gotta think about it and then it’ll come to you.”

ESPN insider Adam Schefter also hinted that Kelce could be done playing football during a recent appearance on the “Patt McAfee Show” stating that Kelce’s retirement is a “real 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.”

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