Travis Kelce makes firm statement on NFL retirement citing family’s involvement

Travis Kelce Reflects on NFL Future After Chiefs’ Season Ends

By Ahad Sanwari | Senior Writer – New York | January 5, 2026

The Chiefs’ Season Conclusion

The Kansas City Chiefs faced another defeat in Las Vegas on Sunday, January 4, 2026, losing 14-12 to the Las Vegas Raiders and ending their season. This season, following their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at the Super Bowl in February 2025, marks the first time the Chiefs haven’t made the playoffs in 10 seasons. This has left their star tight end, Travis Kelce, contemplative.

Travis Kelce’s Contemplation

The 36-year-old NFL star has been considering retirement, especially as he enters his late 30s and amid his team’s declining performance. Despite 2025 being a significant year personally, with his engagement and wedding plans with Taylor Swift, Travis took time to reflect on his bond with his teammates after the Chiefs’ loss on Sunday.

Speaking at the Allegiant Stadium visitors’ locker room, Travis expressed his love for the team: “I just love this team,” per ESPN. “I’m proud of the way we finished this, even though it ended the way it did. The guys still showed up and gave it their all. That’s all you can ask for.”

Travis mentioned a rough timeline for deciding his NFL future, stating, “I’ve got so much love for this team, this organization, and the people here. I’ll spend some time with them, go through exit meetings and get close to the family and figure things out.”

Future Decisions

Travis has previously mentioned delaying his decision until March, following the Super Bowl, when NFL free agency and drafting begin. He added, “Who knows? Either it hits me quick or I’ve got to take some time. Last year was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away I wanted to kind of give this one a shot. We’ll see.”

Despite the season not being the best for the Chiefs or Travis personally in terms of statistics, the tight end is taking it in stride. He noted, “We obviously didn’t do well as a team, but I felt like I came into the season prepared and ready to rock and roll with the right intentions. The ball just didn’t go our way in a lot of those close games, unfortunately.”

Travis promised that if he were to come back, he would be more intentional about focusing on “those late-game moments.” He isn’t the only one contemplating his fate with the NFL and advising time spent with family, as his older brother Jason Kelce is offering the same advice.

Jason Kelce said during an appearance on ESPN’s Monday Night Football pre-game, “In my opinion, to nail that decision, you gotta step away from the game for a little bit. Play these last three games. Enjoy them with your teammates, enjoy them with your coaches. The team’s going to be different no matter whether you come back or not this year. So, enjoy these last three games. And then let it sink in. It will come to you with time.”