Travis Kelce has never been one to shy away from the spotlight - on the field, at least. But after the Chiefs’ season came to a frustrating end with a 16-13 home loss, the All-Pro tight end opted not to speak with reporters postgame, and that decision isn’t sitting well with some in the sports world.
This wasn’t the first time Kelce has skipped media availability following a tough loss this season - it was actually the third. And while emotions were undoubtedly running high, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury and the sting of a season that fell short of expectations, the move raised eyebrows. For a 10-time Pro Bowler, three-time Super Bowl champion, and team captain, that silence didn’t go unnoticed.
One of the loudest voices calling Kelce out? Chris “Mad Dog” Russo.
During his weekly “What Are You Mad About?” segment on ESPN’s First Take, Russo didn’t hold back.
“Timeout!” he barked.
“You got these poor guys who have been covering the Chiefs for years - every training camp, every practice, every preseason game - and you blow them off at the end of this game? When Mahomes is out, and it might be the last game you ever play?
You can’t give them three words?”
Russo’s frustration wasn’t just about media etiquette. He framed it as a moment bigger than just one player or one game.
“This is a huge moment in Kansas City and in NFL history,” he said. “And you blow everybody off… that is wrong!
That is not the way to do things. Give them five minutes.
Give them a couple sentences, for the Chiefs fan.”
He even took a shot at Kelce’s off-field endeavors, saying, “I could care less about his stupid podcast. No serious sports fan listens to that nonsense anyway.”
Now, let’s be clear - Kelce didn’t completely ghost the media. When approached in the locker room, he reportedly said, “Sorry, guys.
It’s not the time. I’ll catch you guys during the week.”
It wasn’t a full-on snub, but it also wasn’t the kind of leadership moment fans and media alike have come to expect from a player of Kelce’s stature.
Interestingly, despite the league’s rule requiring players to be available either after games or during the week, Kelce’s name didn’t appear on the list of fines for Week 15. That’s raised some eyebrows, especially among those who feel the NFL should hold its stars to the same standard as everyone else.
Whether the league quietly gave Kelce a pass or simply took his promise to speak later in the week at face value, the optics are still tricky. For a player who’s been the emotional heartbeat of Kansas City’s offense for over a decade, moments like these carry weight - not just for the media, but for the fans who’ve ridden the highs and lows of this era.
Kelce’s legacy in Kansas City is secure. He’s a future Hall of Famer, a generational tight end, and one of the game’s most charismatic personalities.
But leadership doesn’t end when the clock hits zero - especially in the tough moments. And when the season ends not with confetti, but with questions, that’s when voices like his are needed most.