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Travis Kelce retirement rumors heated up on December 25 as Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid addressed the chatter ahead of the Chiefs’ Christmas Day home game vs. the Denver Broncos, and the trading card market is reacting fast.
The early market signals are showing up in Kelce’s key rookie cards, especially 2013 Topps Chrome #118 in both raw and graded condition, as collectors try to price in the possibility that this really could be close to the end.
Andy Reid addressed the noise, and the timing is the point
Reid didn’t announce anything, but he acknowledged the moment when asked about the possibility Kelce could be playing his final Chiefs home game on Christmas. That “is this the last one?” tension is exactly what drives short-term hobby spikes for iconic veterans.
“I don’t know if it is or not,” Reid said in a press conference video posted by NFL Insider Adam Schefter. I haven’t talked to him, but I think his numbers and personality and the person, you know, I think speak for themselves. Phenomenal person, great for the community, has been great for the community. So, he’s everything, you know, you want from a player representing an organization.”
Kelce has largely avoided giving a definitive answer publicly, even as the story keeps building through late December, including recent “hint” coverage tied to his New Heights podcast.
There’s also a real-world deadline on the horizon: Kelce’s contract situation and the Chiefs’ offseason calendar make early March a natural decision window, according to CBS Sports’ reporting.
What moved: the Kelce rookie-card lanes collectors actually chase
The clearest action right now is in the familiar “Kelce rookie ladder”:
Collectors also monitor scarcer Chrome parallels (X-Fractor/Refractor/Blue Refractor). One tracker showed an X-Fractor raw last sale at $65 in mid-December, with PSA 10 data points appearing in late November.
Why it’s moving now: “last home game” pressure + Hall-of-Fame framing
This is the classic veteran-market setup: when retirement talk gets attached to a specific date — Christmas at Arrowhead vs. the Broncos — casual buyers and team collectors enter the market alongside the usual hobby regulars.
Kelce also sits in a clean “legacy bucket” for collectors (future Canton conversation, signature postseason moments, high-profile visibility), which is why hobby outlets have been resurfacing “best Kelce cards” guides as the retirement chatter rises.
And from a team-building standpoint, it’s not just vibes: Kelce’s 2025 cap number is significant, and his contract term adds real offseason consequence to the decision.
What to watch next (and what collectors should not assume)
If you’re tracking this like a consumer story, the next “market-moving” beats are straightforward:
Chiefs-Broncos on Dec. 25 (the emotional “could this be it?” hook).
Season finale vs. Raiders on Jan. 4 (another natural “last game” narrative moment).
Early March decision window reported by CBS Sports, the point where rumor becomes decision.
Reality check: card prices can move quickly on headlines, but they can also cool just as fast if a player returns. Completed sales matter more than listings, and short-term spikes don’t automatically hold.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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