As speculation continues to swirl around his future, Travis Kelce is openly acknowledging that he doesn’t yet have clarity on what comes next.
The longtime Kansas City Chiefs star addressed the uncertainty head-on during a recent sit-down with Tony Gonzalez for Amazon Prime Video, filmed ahead of the team’s Christmas Day loss to the Denver Broncos.
Asked directly whether the game could be his final appearance at Arrowhead Stadium, Kelce didn’t offer a definitive answer. Instead, he framed the moment as one of reflection following a difficult season for Kansas City.
“I think I’m still searching for those answers,” Kelce said. “Obviously, the way this one ended with a sour taste in my mouth. I feel motivated, but I’ve got to make the right decision for me.”
Kelce also acknowledged that any potential return would require mutual interest from both sides. “I gotta hope that if I do wanna come back that the Chiefs are willing to bring me back,” he added. “It’s a two-way street on that.”
The 36-year-old tight end, now in his 13th NFL season and fresh off his 11th Pro Bowl selection, is navigating unfamiliar territory. Kansas City missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and the team closed the year without Patrick Mahomes, who suffered season-ending ACL and LCL injuries earlier in December. Despite the circumstances, Kelce said his connection to the game remains strong.
“I know when it’s over, it’s over,” he said. “I feel like I still have a lot of love for this game… if I came back it’d just be to answer that flame in my heart that I still love this thing.”
Kelce added that he has a trusted sounding board as he weighs his options: his older brother, Jason Kelce, who retired after the 2023 season. Jason has previously shared that stepping away from the game helped him find clarity, and he advised his brother to allow time and distance to guide the decision rather than forcing an answer immediately after the season ends.
That philosophy aligns with how Travis has approached the moment publicly. Even after the loss to Denver, he appeared to savor the atmosphere, taking time to acknowledge the crowd before leaving the field.
“You only get a few of those where you just get to stand there and appreciate 60–70,000 Chiefs fans screaming for you,” Kelce said afterward. “I always embrace that moment.”