Following a surprising decline in production during the 2024 season and a heavy loss in Super Bowl LIX, rumors began swirling that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce might soon retire.
But according to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, discussions about hanging up the cleats never happened, and Kelce sounds far from ready to walk away.
Patrick Mahomes recently told Arrowhead Pride, “We never talked about it. I think you have that in the back of your mind. I mean, for anybody that’s played a lot of football seasons, there’s always a chance. You have to put in the work in the offseason.
I think everybody wants to play in the games, but putting the work in the offseason is where stuff gets strenuous.”
Despite speculation, Mahomes echoed the belief that even if Kelce quietly weighed retirement, he chose not to share it, and that the chief concern is always the grind.
As Mahomes noted, putting in offseason work becomes tougher the longer you’ve been in the league. But when asked about Kelce‘s sharp decline in stats-from 97 catches in 2023 to a career-low 823 yards and only three touchdowns in ’24, Mahomes didn’t sound ready to ring the “end of the line” alarm.
Kelce has confirmed he’ll play out his final contract year in 2025, and Mahomes insists that he fully expects Kelce to return to form, but not just in terms of yardage. “I expect Travis to be Travis,” Mahomes told reporters.
“Obviously, the play on the field is gonna be high. He’s going to out there with the mentality that we’re trying to win the Super Bowl this year after falling short this last year. I think more than anything it’s the leadership he brings to the building every day. How he leads by example, how he leads vocally; it’s a big impact to our football team.”
Offseason reflections and renewed expectations
The context around Kelce‘s future continues to evolve. Earlier in 2025, after the Super Bowl loss, Mahomes offered a candid assessment:
“He knows he still has a lot of football left in him. … It’s just if he wants to put in that grind.”
That careful line of support, Mahomes highlighting the challenge but confirming Kelce’s upside, echoes across everything from team messaging to fan chatter.
Mahomes made it clear that the decision is ultimately Kelce‘s: “I’ll let Travis make that decision on his own, man… He knows he still has love for the game.”
From Mahomes‘ perspective, Kelce‘s internal fire is still burning. “If it’s the last ride, you would never know,” he added at another press stop.
“He doesn’t seem like a guy that it’s his last ride, like he’s tired of the job… he’s in here, he’s working, and I know his body feels good. I think it feels better than even last year, before going into last season.”
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