KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Following the Chiefs’ elimination from the NFL playoffs last week, star tight end Travis Kelce intends to participate in all of the final three games of this season.
A veteran of 13 years, Kelce understands that these three games — kicking off Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, on Christmas Day against the Denver Broncos, and concluding with a matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders — may mark the end of his remarkable career.
«It’s just about integrity, man,» Kelce stated after practice on Friday. «I committed to being a Chief, and I love what I do. I’ve always dreamed of being in these moments and playing for an NFL team since I was a child. Returning to that drives you with more motivation than you could ever need. That’s the mindset you should have at work, whether you’re in the playoff race or not.»
Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce plans to retire after the 2023 season.
When questioned if he had thought about last week’s defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers being his last game alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes, his closest friend on the team, Kelce responded with four words: «Oh man, that’s wild.»
Throughout much of this season, Kelce, now 36, has focused only on the present year, which he reiterated on Friday.
«I think I’d prefer to keep the emphasis on this team, at the moment,» Kelce said. «All discussions I have with the team moving forward will be with them. This is a distinctive time in my life. I have three games remaining. Regrettably, I have only three games left and I know when the season wraps up. Just trying to ensure everyone here understands that I’m concentrated on winning in these last three games.»
Mahomes sustained a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee with under two minutes left in Sunday’s defeat to the Chargers. The following day, Mahomes underwent a successful operation to mend his ACL and the torn LCL, with the surgery performed by Dr. Dan Cooper, the head team physician for the Dallas Cowboys.
Since that time, Kelce has communicated with Mahomes, who began his recovery on Tuesday.
«That’s my brother. I comprehend everything he’s dealing with,» Kelce said regarding Mahomes. «It’s just disappointing, and on top of that, it’s a real blow, knowing how the season ended for [Mahomes] in our final hope going into the last drive of [Sunday’s] game. It seemed like we might have a chance to secure the victory and keep our [playoff] hopes alive. Unfortunately, it just went downhill from there.»
«It’s tough, man, but that’s the way it is. We have three games left to try to enjoy it with the guys in this building. Furthermore, Chiefs kingdom deserves us to go out and give it our all for them.»
Kelce tops the Chiefs in targets (92), receptions (67), yards (797), touchdowns (5), and receiving first downs (42). Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals (1,071) is the only tight end with more yards than Kelce.
This past offseason, Kelce did what he used to do as a younger player: He trained in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with Tony Villani to regain some of the speed, agility, and quickness he felt he had lost over the last two seasons. The noticeable enhancement in athleticism has allowed Kelce to reclaim a skill that made him one of the league’s top pass catchers: He has outsmarted opposing defenses with 409 yards after the catch, which ranks third among tight ends.
«I thought he’s had a fantastic year,» coach Andy Reid commented about Kelce. «I believed he performed well, demonstrating great leadership, and I thought he elevated his performance even from what he [demonstrated] last year. He made that a priority this offseason and truly focused on coming in superb shape. It’s benefited him throughout the year. He’s managed to sustain that.»
If Kelce accumulates 203 receiving yards in the remaining three games, he will become the oldest tight end in NFL history to achieve 1,000 yards in a season. However, Kelce is determined to achieve the milestone in a specific way.
«If it comes with winning three games for the teammates I work with, then yes, absolutely,» Kelce stated. «You could throw the balls out in a Walmart parking lot, man. Sign me up, baby. [If] I have the opportunity to play in the NFL, I will do it.»
