- Travis Kelce says he will play in the Kansas City Chiefs’ final three games of the season.
- Kelce is in the final year of his contract and plans to decide on retirement by early March.
- Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending knee injury; Kelce plans to give full effort for teammates and Chiefs Kingdom.
- Kelce needs 203 receiving yards in three games to reach 1,000 yards and become the oldest TE to do so.
H2: Kelce commits to playing remaining games amid retirement questions
Travis Kelce, the 13-year veteran tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, confirmed he will play in the team’s final three regular-season games — Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, Christmas Day versus the Denver Broncos and the season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. Kelce made the announcement after Friday’s practice, saying the decision is rooted in integrity and loyalty to his teammates.
H3: Retirement decision timeline
Kelce is in the final year of his contract and has said he will decide whether to retire or return before NFL free agency begins in early March. He has spoken often this season about treating each game as if it could be his last, and he reiterated that his focus remains on the team and finishing the season strong.
H3: Mahomes injury, team context
The decision comes after Kansas City was eliminated from playoff contention and after quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn ACL and LCL late in the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Mahomes underwent successful surgery and has begun rehab; Kelce said he has spoken with his close friend and teammate and described the injury as “an absolute dagger.” Despite the disappointment, Kelce stressed the importance of competing for the Chiefs Kingdom in the final games.
H2: On-field production and milestones
Through the season Kelce leads the Chiefs in targets (92), receptions (67), yards (797), touchdowns (5) and receiving first downs (42). He ranks second among tight ends in receiving yards behind Arizona’s Trey McBride. Kelce needs 203 receiving yards across the final three games to reach 1,000 yards — which would make him the oldest tight end in NFL history to hit that mark.
H3: Conditioning and leadership
Kelce credited offseason work with trainer Tony Villani for improved speed, agility and quickness that he says helped him regain explosiveness. Coach Andy Reid praised Kelce’s leadership and performance, saying he’s had “a heck of a year” and noting a step up from the previous season.
H4: Kelce’s focus
Kelce emphasized that his immediate focus is on the next three games and on giving everything for his teammates. He said, “I signed up to be a Chief, and I love doing what I do,” adding that he wants to help the team win and to honor Chiefs Kingdom by playing hard in the season’s final outings.
As Kelce approaches the end of a season that could be his last, he’s chosen to prioritize competing through the final slate while leaving the retirement decision for the offseason. Fans and analysts will watch the next three games closely — for both Kelce’s potential 1,000-yard milestone and clues about whether he’ll return in 2026.
Image Referance: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47359976/travis-kelce-plans-play-chiefs-final-3-games
