Travis Kelce isn’t giving up on the season. Even with the Chiefs eliminated from playoff contention, the star tight end plans to suit up for all three remaining games.
The 36-year-old veteran knows these final matchups – starting with the Titans this Sunday, followed by a Christmas Day showdown with the Broncos, and finishing against the Raiders – could potentially be the last of his career.
“It’s just integrity, man,” Kelce said after Friday’s practice. “I signed up to be a Chief, and I love doing what I do. I know I’ve been dreaming of being in these moments and playing for an NFL team since I was a kid. Getting back to that will give you more motivation than you could ever need. That’s just how you need to go about work, whether you’re in the playoff race or not.”
“I’m going to make sure these guys know I’m out there giving them everything I got.”
Just a month ago, Kelce revealed he’ll decide on retirement or returning to KC by early March – before free agency begins. Currently in the final year of his contract, he’s witnessed firsthand how difficult the retirement decision was for his brother Jason, who hung up his cleats after 13 seasons with the Eagles.
When asked if he’d considered that last week’s Chargers loss might have been his final game alongside his best friend Patrick Mahomes, Kelce’s response was brief but telling: “Oh man, that’s crazy.”
He’s kept his focus narrow all season.
“I think I’d rather just keep the focus on this team, right now,” Kelce explained. “All the conversations that I have with the team moving forward will be with them. It’s a unique time in my life. I’ve got three games left. Unfortunately, I’ve got three games left and I know when the season ends. Just trying to make sure everybody here knows that I’m focused on trying to win games these last three games.”
The Chiefs’ playoff hopes effectively ended when Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL with under two minutes left in Sunday’s loss. Dr. Dan Cooper, the Cowboys’ head physician, performed successful surgery on the quarterback’s knee the following day.
Kelce has already checked in with his quarterback, who began rehab Tuesday.
“That’s my brother. I know everything he’s going through,” Kelce said. “It’s just disappointing, and then, on top of that, it’s just an absolute dagger into the back, knowing how the season ended for him on our last hope going into the last drive of Sunday’s game. It looked like we were going to have a chance to maybe come out with the win and keep our playoff hopes alive. It just kept going downhill from there.”
“It sucks, man, but that’s the reality of it. We’ve got three games left to try to enjoy it with the guys in this building. On top of that, Chiefs kingdom deserves us to go out there and play our hearts out for them.”
Despite the team’s struggles, Kelce’s been a bright spot. He leads Kansas City in targets (92), catches (67), yards (797), touchdowns (5) and receiving first downs (42). Only Arizona’s Trey McBride has more receiving yards among tight ends this season with 1,071.
This past offseason, Kelce returned to his roots – training in Fort Lauderdale with Tony Villani, hoping to regain some of the explosiveness he felt he’d lost in recent years. The work paid off. He’s third among NFL tight ends with 409 yards after catch, using his improved athleticism to outwit defenders.
“I thought he’s had a heck of a year,” coach Andy Reid said. “I thought he played well, great leadership, obviously, and I thought it was a step up even from what he showed last year. He made that a point this offseason and really focused in, coming in great shape. It’s helped him throughout the year. He’s been able to maintain that.”
With 203 more receiving yards, Kelce would become the oldest tight end in NFL history to reach the 1,000-yard mark in a season. But there’s only one way he wants to achieve that milestone.
“If it comes with winning three games for the guys I go to work with, man, then yeah, without a doubt,” Kelce said. “You could 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 going to do it.”