Patrick Mahomes Hints at Travis Kelce’s Retirement After Bizarre Loss to Texans

Patrick Mahomes threw three interceptions, of which one was courtesy of his trusted teammate Travis Kelce, in the loss against the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Patrick Mahomes Hints at Travis Kelce’s Retirement After Bizarre Loss to Texans

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce (Image via SI)

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Everyone expected Travis Kelce to hang up his cleats with a win and ring last February, but things didn’t pan out as per expectations. The Kansas City Chiefs lost Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles, and soon Kelce was returning to the field once again.

However, the return has become sour. On Sunday (December 7), the Houston Texans defeated the Chiefs and ended their chances of winning their 10th consecutive AFC West division title. Retirement whispers had already been building ahead of the game, yet Sunday’s deflating 20–10 defeat, paired with some eye-opening remarks from Patrick Mahomes, has intensified the conversation around Kelce’s future.

Mahomes didn’t openly say that Kelce is preparing to walk away, but his comments carried a tone that suggested change may be coming. The way he spoke about Kelce hinted at a sense of finality, as though the tight end could be entering the last four games of his storied career.

Every season I’ve had with him these last few years, I try to cherish because you never know. He got himself in great shape this year and he’s played great football and he’ll have the option to do whatever he wants to do after this season, but I know one thing, he’s giving everything he has the rest of this season to try to make a playoff run.

Patrick Mahomes said to reporters

Kelce has dealt with retirement speculation all season, but the chatter intensified after the Texans’ loss, largely because of the costly mistake in the fourth quarter. The veteran tight end let a pass slip through his hands, and the deflection resulted in an interception.

With Travis Kelce’s potential retirement looming larger than ever, questions are growing about how prepared the Chiefs truly are for life without their future Hall of Famer. The outlook isn’t entirely reassuring.

Critics argued that Kansas City has not done enough this season to transition its offense toward younger playmakers. SI.com’s Dominic Minchella pointed out that the Chiefs continued to lean heavily on Kelce instead of giving expanded roles to emerging receivers like Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. This kind of reliance, while understandable given Kelce’s consistency, leaves the team vulnerable if he walks away after the season.

Kelce still leads the Chiefs in yards after the catch, a skill set that would be extremely difficult to replace and one that could create a major hole in next year’s offense. Minchella notes that while it’s been enjoyable to watch a franchise icon remain productive, it’s also troubling that the supposed future of the receiving corps hasn’t been given more snaps to take over his responsibilities.

Kansas City Chiefs might miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade

According to The Athletic’s playoff predictor, Sunday’s loss sank Kansas City’s postseason chances to just 14%, leaving them with virtually no room for mistakes. In the upcoming games, the Chiefs face all three of their divisional rivals and the Tennessee Titans.

Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes (Image via The Spun)

If the Chiefs drop even one of their final four games, their odds of reaching the playoffs fall to below 5%. The Denver Broncos are on a generational streak, winning the last ten games. This is the longest that they have won straight since winning eleven consecutive games in 2012. The Chiefs can’t win their division, and the only hopes lie in making the wildcard spots.

However, their chances are very low, and even Mahomes admitted to the fact.

We know the chances are getting lower and lower, but I know the guys on this team are going to give everything they have, very opportunity we get.

Patrick Mahomes told the press

Mahomes added that while the team wasn’t winning right now, he emphasized that their mindset and effort were never in doubt. He explained that even in losses, no one could question the fight inside the locker room. Furthermore, he admitted that they weren’t executing in crucial moments or making the necessary plays. Nonetheless, he remained confident that their determination would be evident over the final four weeks of the season.

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