The Kansas City Chiefs have their sights set on the remainder of the 2025 season, and they have work cut out for them, as they're in danger of falling under .500 with a loss to the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts. Star running back Isiah Pacheco is still sidelined for the Chiefs, adding more pressure to the other guys in the backfield to step up.
Kansas City's offense has been inconsistent throughout the season, and they'll certainly have to make some changes in the offseason. One massive question will be around tight end Travis Kelce's future, and he touched on that topic on Friday, giving the Chiefs another offensive concern to deal with.
"Seeing my brother go through it and seeing — I don’t know, how the league works... I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity, whether I come back or not, and vice versa," Kelce said (h/t @mattderrick). "I'd like to make that decision before they gotta get draft picks and free agency opens... Gives them an opportunity to go out there and fill the roster appropriately."
Travis Kelce's Post-2025 Retirement Seems Realer Than Ever
Kelce's eventual retirement has been a conversation for some time now, and there were concerns that the fan-favorite TE wouldn't return. This past offseason, Kelce trained down in Florida with Tony Villani in an effort to recoup some of the speed, agility, and quickness he felt he had lost over the last two campaigns.
That ultimately led to him deciding in the first week of March that he would return, but it's clear the wear and tear of the NFL is taking a toll on Kelce. Nonetheless, he's still leading the team in catches (50), receiving yards (631), and receiving touchdowns (4) entering Week 12. Kelce is still finding ways to be productive, logging more than 50 receiving yards in seven games in 2025.
While he's still a reliable outlet for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a 13-year career is a long time. Especially since the Chiefs have had long postseason runs, the ability to bounce back isn't as easy as it once was. He's 36 years old and will turn 37 next October. There's also little that Kelce hasn't already accomplished, and with each passing week, it seems likelier that this season is his last.
Following the Week 11 loss to the Broncos, Kelce revealed he wasn't worried about the Chiefs' record. He said, "If you’re going to ask me about the record, I could care less about that right now" to reporters, seemingly indicating that winning isn't a top priority this year.
Considering that was a division loss, and it makes Kansas City's road to the playoffs that much harder, most fans would expect Kelce to be furious, or at least frustrated. But since he wasn't, it seems like he's soft-launching that he plans to step away after the season.
Granted, these comments could have been nothing, but with Kelce coming out and speaking about his future in November amid a playoff push is noteworthy. It's something fans should keep an eye on, as the time between now and March is growing shorter with each passing day.
Needless to say, it's important for Chiefs fans to savor every time Kelce steps foot ont he gridiron between now and (hopefully) February.