NEED TO KNOW
Travis Kelce’s teammate Chris Jones reacted to rumors that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end will be retiring after their final game on Jan. 4“We have just been through so much together, and Travis has been a pivotal part of this offense for so long, and he’s been like a brother … I hope this isn’t the last year,” Jones said after the Chiefs’ loss to the Denver BroncosWhile Travis avoided directly confirming his retirement during the Dec. 25 game, he said he was feeling “a lot of emotions”
Chris Jones is urging Travis Kelce to stick around for “just one more” year.
On Thursday, Dec. 25, the Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle, 31, shared his thoughts about the speculation that Travis, 36, will retire after the team’s final game on Jan. 4.
“I hope not, man,” Jones said in response to a question about his longtime teammate during a post-game interview following the Chiefs’ loss to the Denver Broncos. “We have just been through so much together, and Travis has been a pivotal part of this offense for so long, and he’s been like a brother … I hope this isn’t the last year. I hope he gives it one more year. Just one more.”
For his part, Travis told reporters after what may have been his final Chiefs home game that he was experiencing “a whole lot of emotions.” His fiancée, Taylor Swift, was also in attendance at the game at Arrowhead Stadium, and watched from a suite alongside Travis’ mom, Donna Kelce.
“You’ve got everybody in the world watching you,” Travis continued during a postgame press conference, per the Associated Press. “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.”
In a Prime Video interview that aired earlier that day, Travis further opened up about whether it was time to step away from the game following a 13-year career in the league.
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Travis Kelce during the Chiefs-Broncos game on Dec. 25, 2025.
Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty
“You know, that’s a good question, man. I think I’m still searching for those answers. The way this one ended with a sour taste in my mouth,” he told retired football star Tony Gonzalez. “I feel motivated, but I got to make the right decision for me.”
With his contract ending after the 2025 NFL season, Travis emphasized that he would be focusing on finishing out the season with a bang.
“I got to hope that if I do want to come back, the Chiefs are willing to bring me back,” he said at the time.
“So it’s a two-way street on that,” he continued. “But at the same time, man, at this point in this year, I’m just trying to finish out and give Chiefs Kingdom everything that I’ve got and go out there and do it with some of that flair that you said I play with.”