Chiefs DT Chris Jones Send Clear Message Amid Travis Kelce Retirement Rumors

The Kansas City Chiefs are not going to the NFL playoffs, leaving the future of superstar tight end Travis Kelce as the major talking point involving the AFC West team.

With Kelce's future in the NFL seemingly up in the air, many believe that his appearance on Thursday night at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City against the Denver Broncos was his last in the building as a player.

Many others hope that the 2025 NFL season will not be Kelce's last.

Among those who are keeping their hopes up for the continuation of Kelce's NFL career beyond 2025 is Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones.

Here's what Jones told reporters in the postgame press conference amid swirling rumors on Kelce's possible retirement (h/t Nate Taylor of ESPN):

"Damn, man. We've been through so much together. I hope he gives it one more year, just one more year."

Kelce hasn't provided a clear answer either about which direction he will take once the 2025 campaign is over. But if he ends up choosing retirement instead of giving it another go in the NFL, he would walk away from the league with a stacked football resume.

The 36-year-old Kelce has been to the top of the NFL multiple times, having won three Super Bowl titles with the Chiefs and earned a total of 11 Pro Bowl nods in addition to the records he has set in the league.

In what could be his final game at Arrowhead, Kelce paced the Chiefs with 36 receiving yards on five catches and six targets in a 20-13 loss to Bo Nix and company.

Related: Travis Kelce Retirement Rumors Swirl Amid Chiefs Slump

Athlon

This story was originally published December 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM.