Travis Kelce addresses retirement speculation after Chiefs' loss to Broncos on Christmas
Travis Kelce addressed retirement speculation following the Kansas City Chiefs' Christmas night defeat to the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos won 20-13 over the Chiefs Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
According to ESPN, Kelce, who played alongside third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun while starter Patrick Mahomes and backup Gardner Minshew were out with knee injuries, had five catches for 36 yards against the Broncos.
The Chiefs' loss comes amid talks about whether Kelce will announce if he is retiring or not after the season. He sparked rumors about a possible retirement in a pre-game interview with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez on Prime Video.
In the interview, Kelce said he feels motivated about his future but that he "has to make the right decision for me."
"I got to hope that if I do want to come back, the Chiefs are willing to bring me back, so it's a two-way street on that," he said. "But at the same time, at this point in this year, I'm just trying to finish out and give Chiefs Kingdom everything I got and go out there and do it with some of that flair."
He added that his brother, Jason Kelce, who retired from the NFL in 2024 after 13 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of several people he's spoken to about the question of retirement.
"I'm asking myself, what was it for you that helped you find that answer?" Kelce said.
Gonzalez, who retired from the NFL in 2013, replied with his reasons leading up to his retirement and told Kelce that he is "one of the greatest tight ends of all time.
"You have won Super Bowl rings, you have been all pro, you have done stuff off the field, you have stuff waiting for you after the season's over -- the sky's the limit on what your next chapter is going to be," he said.
In a post-game press conference shared by KMBC-TV on YouTube, Kelce reflected on Thursday's game and said there were "a whole lot of emotions."
"You've got everybody in the world watching you," he said. "You get to go out there with the young guys on prime-time television. Young guys getting an opportunity to taste what this NFL life is like."
When asked what was going through his head in what could have been his last game at Arrowhead stadium he talked about the fans that have supported him and the Chiefs.
"You only get a few of those moments where you just get to stand there and appreciate 60- to 70,000 Chiefs fans screaming for you."
"I always embrace that moment, it's fun and hopefully I got everybody fired up for it," he added.
In terms of retirement, he said, "I'll let that be a decision I'll make with my family, friends, the Chiefs organization when the time comes."
Kelce's teammate Chris Jones, defensive tackle for the Chiefs, said in a separate post-game interview shared on YouTube by KMBC-TV that he hopes Thursday's game wasn't his last with Kelce.
"We just have been through so much together," he said. "He's been like a brother. I hope he gives it one more year. Just one more, man. Just one more."
ESPN said that Kelce's fiancé Taylor Swift was in a stadium suite cheering him on. His teammates Mahomes and Minshew were also there to show their support.
