Dec 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) talks with Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) following a Chargers victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

4 Ominous Observations From Travis Kelce’s Friday Press Conference

Originally posted on Kansas City Chiefs on SI
By Zak Gilbert | Last updated Dec 19, 2025 4:30 PM ET

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Watching Travis Kelce fly through practice in 38-degree weather on Friday, the only player wearing short sleeves and shorts, as a green traffic signal.

Yet 95 minutes later when he stepped to the podium at Chiefs headquarters, he continued to use ominous language that his Hall of Fame career is rapidly approaching a red light. There was a palpable feeling in the room that the tight end’s next press conference would be to announce his retirement.

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Here are four reasons why.

Sunday’s game was especially brutal

Officially feeling elimination on Sunday was just the beginning. Kelce had to watch Patrick Mahomes leave the field with a serious ACL injury, then see Derwin James intercept Gardner Minshew’s final pass.

“Just an absolute dagger into the back,” Kelce said Friday, “knowing how the season ended for one-five. And on our last hope going into the last drive of the game, and looked like we were going to have a chance to maybe come out with a win and keep our hopes alive, and then kind of just kept going downhill from there.”

“So, it sucks, man. It sucks, but that's the reality of it. And right now, we got three games left to try and enjoy it with the guys in this building, and the team that we've built here. And then on top of that, Chiefs Kingdom deserves us to go out there and play our hearts out for them.”

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The enormity of playing his final game with Mahomes

Kelce took a second to absorb the question, whether he might’ve played with Mahomes for the last time. His 897th reception from Mahomes on Sunday might’ve been final.

“Man, that's crazy. I think I'd rather just keep the focus of the media and everything on this team right now. And all the conversations that I have with the team and everything moving forward will be with them.

“I think it's a unique time in my life. And, unfortunately, I got three games left and then I know when the season ends this year. Typically, we go into this and we don't know when it's gonna end, and that's the beauty of it. But just trying to make sure that everybody here knows that I'm focused on trying to win football games these last three games.”

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Looking back on 2025, there were no moral victories

Given an opportunity to put a positive spin on the Chiefs’ season in perspective of the franchise’s remarkable accomplishments over the last decade, Kelce had one word to describe his feelings.

“Disappointed.”

Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Regardless of his decision, the Chiefs will get every penny from Kelce over the final three games:

“You can roll the balls out in a Walmart parking lot, man. Sign me up, baby. If I get a chance to play in the NFL, I'm gonna do it.”

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