Is This the Final Arrowhead Ride for Travis Kelce? Uncertainty Looms as Chiefs Close Out Disappointing Season
As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for their final home game of the season, one question is starting to echo louder than the crowd at Arrowhead: Could this be the last time Travis Kelce suits up in front of the home fans?
Kelce, now in the final year of the two-year, $34.25 million extension he signed back in April 2024, hasn’t said much about his future. But with the Chiefs officially out of the playoff picture for the first time since 2014, and his production dipping noticeably, the retirement conversation is no longer just background noise - it’s front and center.
A Hall of Fame Career, No Matter What Comes Next
Let’s be clear: Travis Kelce’s resume is already Canton-worthy. Drafted 63rd overall in 2013, he’s piled up 12,954 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns over 13 seasons.
He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion, a perennial Pro Bowler, and arguably the most dynamic tight end of his generation. He’s redefined the position - part receiver, part bulldozer, all heart.
But 2025 hasn’t looked like vintage Kelce. Through 15 games, he’s managed 803 yards and five touchdowns - respectable by most standards, but far from the game-breaking numbers we’ve come to expect. He hasn’t found the end zone in the last three games, and with the Chiefs mired in a four-game losing streak, the offense as a whole has struggled to find its rhythm.
Andy Reid: “I Don’t Know If It Is or Not”
At Tuesday’s press conference, head coach Andy Reid was asked directly if Thursday’s matchup against the Denver Broncos might be Kelce’s final home game in Kansas City. Reid didn’t have a definitive answer.
“I don't know if it is or not, I haven't talked to him,” Reid said. “I think his numbers and personality and the person - I think - speak for themselves.
Phenomenal person and great for the community. He’s everything you want from a player representing an organization.”
That’s not just coach-speak. Kelce has been more than just a star on the field - he’s been the heartbeat of the Chiefs’ locker room and a face of the franchise during their dynastic run. From his chemistry with Patrick Mahomes to his larger-than-life personality, Kelce has been a pillar of Kansas City football for over a decade.
Kelce Keeping the Focus on the Team
When Kelce met with reporters last Friday, he didn’t tip his hand about what’s next. If he’s made a decision about retirement, he’s keeping it close to the vest - for now.
“I’d rather keep the focus on the team right now,” Kelce said. “All the conversations I have with the team moving forward will be with them.
I think it’s a unique time in my life. I’ve got three games left and I know when the season ends this year...
Just trying to make sure that everybody here knows that I’m focused on trying to win football games, these last three games.”
It’s a classic veteran move - keep the attention on the task at hand, not the headlines. But reading between the lines, Kelce knows the end of the road could be near.
He’s not denying it. He’s just not ready to talk about it - not while there’s still football to be played.
Chiefs Face Broncos in Final Home Game
The Chiefs will host the Denver Broncos on Thursday night at 8:15 p.m. ET in what could be an emotional night at Arrowhead.
With Kansas City sitting at 6-9 and eliminated from playoff contention, the stakes are different this time around. But for fans, teammates, and even opponents, the potential of watching Kelce play his final home game adds a layer of significance.
This isn’t how anyone imagined the Chiefs’ season ending - not with a four-game skid, a third-place spot in the AFC West, and a 26-9 loss to the Titans fresh in the rearview. But if this is indeed the last ride for No. 87 in Kansas City, it’s a moment that deserves to be appreciated for what it is: the possible closing chapter of one of the greatest tight end careers the NFL has ever seen.
Whether retirement comes in March or not at all, one thing’s certain - Travis Kelce has already left a legacy that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.