Is Travis Kelce Nearing Retirement? Stephen A. Smith Thinks the Chiefs’ Slump Could Push Him Out

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce made a crucial drop against the Houston Texans on Sunday and incited retirement rumors.

Is Travis Kelce Nearing Retirement? Stephen A. Smith Thinks the Chiefs’ Slump Could Push Him Out

Travis Kelce, Stephen A. Smith (Images via Getty Images/The New Yorker)

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The Houston Texans (8-5) have all but eliminated the Kansas City Chiefs (6-7) from the playoffs after a decade of making every postseason. The Chiefs are disqualified from the AFC West spot after the Denver Broncos secured a win over the Las Vegas Raiders and secured their eleventh win of the season.

They have barely a ten percent chance of making it to the wildcard spots, currently held by the Los Angeles Chargers (9-4), Buffalo Bills (9-4), and the Texans. The Chiefs have four games remaining in the season, and they can’t afford to drop even one. Still, it won’t be enough to save their decade-long playoff streak.

Moreover, the defeat at the hands of the Texans exposed the Chiefs and their offensive failures. It sure felt like the Chiefs were in the swansong of the dynastic run in the past few years.

Patrick Mahomes ended up throwing three interceptions, one of which happened after Mahomes’ trusted receiver and teammate, Travis Kelce, slipped the ball into the hands of Azeez Al-Shaair. The Texans led a play from KC 26, which ended in a field goal and extended their lead to ten points. The crucial mistake from Kelce intensified the retirement rumors floating around the tight end.

Stephen A. Smith thinks that the slump indeed could signal the end of the tight-end’s career. He claimed that Kelce is a sure-fire HOF while also making a bold statement stating that Kelce was supposed to retire last year, and he stayed only because of how it ended in Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles.

As for their future sure-fire Hall-of-Famer Travis Kelce, I think this is the end for him. I think we all knew he just came back because of the way they went out in the Super Bowl against the Eagles.

Stephen A. Smith said on First Take

Travis Kelce’s declining numbers this season highlight just how drastically the Chiefs’ offensive dynamics have shifted and put pathos to Smith’s claim. He’s had only 60 receptions for 727 yards so far, and trending toward his lowest output in nearly a decade.

His average of just over four catches per game reflected a drop in individual production and the Chiefs’ offense’s growing struggle to create the reliability and rhythm that Kelce once provided effortlessly. Additionally, the Chiefs no longer have the luxury of assuming Kelce will carry the load. Whether it’s age, usage, defensive attention, or the early signs of a stellar player nearing retirement, Kansas City is now confronting a reality in which its most dependable playmaker is no longer producing at his usual level.

This shift has added urgency on the development of their young receivers and forces the coaching staff to rethink how this offense will function. Not just in the final stretch of this season but also in the post-Kelce era that may be coming sooner than expected.

Travis Kelce’s off-field behavior under fire amid the crucial drop against the Texans

Kelce’s off-field activities have increasingly come under scrutiny as frustration grows among fans and analysts who believe his focus may be drifting away from football. With frequent television appearances, expanding media ventures, and a highly publicized relationship with an internationally acclaimed pop star dominating headlines, critics argued that Kelce’s brand has begun to overshadow his play on the field.

Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce (Image via The Hollywood Reporter)

The concern is not merely about celebrity distractions, but about the effect they may be having on his preparation, performance, and long-term commitment to the Chiefs.

Kelce himself added fuel to the discussion earlier this season when he openly admitted that his “work ethic might have slipped a little bit” due to his growing interest in acting and entertainment. For a player known for unmatched intensity and preparation, the acknowledgment was striking.

The backlash has become louder and more pointed. On his show, Craig Carton went so far as to call Kelce “washed,” arguing that the tight end no longer plays with the same passion and should consider retirement. Kelce’s elite production has declined for two straight seasons, and the timing coincides with the Chiefs’ slump and Kelce’s own visibility away from the field.

After years of surpassing 1,000 receiving yards, the drop-off has become noticeable enough to raise real questions about whether his priorities have shifted.

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