Travis Kelce opens up after potential last home game with Chiefs as retirement rumors swirl

Travis Kelce did his best to soak up in every moment Thursday night for what might have been the last game the 36-year-old plays at Arrowhead Stadium.

Without star quarterback and close friend Patrick Mahomes, as well as backup Gardner Minshew, as they’re both sidelined with knee injuries, Kelce only had five receptions for 36 yards with third-string Chris Oladokun.

Most of those catches came toward the end of the game, when the Chiefs nearly rallied in the final minutes, but they ended up falling to the Broncos, 20-13.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce talks to reporters following an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. AP

The four-time All-Pro, who is expected to announce his retirement decision soon after the season, was appreciative of the Chiefs’ fan base in his postgame press conference.

“You only get a few of those where you just get to stand there and appreciate 60 to 70,000 Chiefs fans screaming for you,” said Kelce, who was the last player introduced through the Chiefs tunnel as the fans roared for what may be the last time for him.

“I always embrace that moment, man. It’s fun. Hopefully I got everybody fired up for it.”

After falling to the Eagles in the Super Bowl in February, missing a historic three-peat, it was a hard pill to swallow for Kelce if he left his career behind after that.

However, this season has not gone as expected for the Chiefs (6-10) and they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

There is a lot of pride to swallow for Kelce, who has had a stellar career as one of the best tight ends in NFL history.

Travis Kelce (87) runs the ball at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“A whole lot of emotions,” Kelce said. “You’ve got everybody in the world watching you. You get to go out there with the young guys on primetime television. Young guys getting an opportunity to taste what this NFL life is like.”

When asked about retirement following the game, the three-time Super Bowl champ said, “I’ll let that be a decision I’ll make with my family, friends, the Chiefs organization when the time comes.”

Kelce is set to be married to pop star Taylor Swift in 2026 after he popped the question in August, and the new step in the relationship has had many speculate that Kelce will not be playing in the NFL next year.

Swift was spotted in a suite supporting her fiancé in the Christmas Day game on Thursday.

Mahomes and Minshew were also watching their teammate from a luxury box as Kelce played his 97th game inside the stadium.

Over his 13-year career, he has caught 645 passes at Arrowhead, including the postseason, which makes for the third-most by any player at a single stadium.

“You feel the generations of happiness and the love that [the fans] have,” Kelce said. “It’s a beautiful thing, man. It’s something I know I’ll cherish forever, whether it’s coming out of the tunnel or just making a big play for them. That’s why we love Arrowhead.”

The Chiefs finish the season next week in Las Vegas and some have wondered whether he will play in that contest, which would allow him to have finished his career at Arrowhead Stadium.