Chiefs Fans Think Travis Kelce Hinted That He’s Retiring With His Comments On Patrick Mahomes’ Injury

Hinting that he’s hanging it up?

It’s been a tough year for the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes also suffered a season-ending injury during this past weekend’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and underwent surgery for a torn ACL that has fans worried that he won’t be recovered in time for the start of the 2026 season.

It’s also been a tough season for Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who had considered retirement after last year but decided to return after the team got destroyed by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.

What was supposed to be a redemption season following the Super Bowl loss has been a nightmare for Kelce, who’s almost guaranteed to finish the season with the fewest receptions since his rookie year. He’s made some big drops that have cost the Chiefs in games, including at the end of a game two weeks ago against the Houston Texans that led to a game-sealing interception.

Of course off the field Travis also has not only his New Heights podcast with his brother Jason Kelce, but he’s also busy planning a wedding to his fiancée Taylor Swift. And at this point he’s one of the older players on the Chiefs at 37, and in fact is the only player left who has been on a Chiefs team that didn’t make the playoffs.

All this has naturally led to speculation that Kelce will be hanging it up at the end of the season. And though Kelce himself hasn’t really commented on his future plans, his comments on Mahomes’ injury on this week’s episode of his podcast have fans convinced that he’s hanging it up.

While discussing the injury, Kelce said he hopes that “the Chiefs” get Mahomes back soon:

“He’s a fearless, fearless warrior when it comes to this football thing, and he’s gonna make sure he comes back stronger than ever. Hopefully the Chiefs can get him back as soon as possible. I know right now it’s kind of right around that week 1 or the beginning of the season next year, so I know he’s going to be doing everything he can to get back out on that field for the Chiefs as soon as possible.”

Notice he didn’t say “we” when referring to the Chiefs. Is that because he knows he won’t be on the team when Mahomes returns? Well that’s what fans immediately thought after hearing Kelce’s comments:

Hi saying the Chiefs like that and not “we” tells you all you need to know. This is his last season.

— Bryan Ogden (@BryanOgden) December 17, 2025

Yep he’s retiring, he said “for the chiefs” not “for us”

— Tysten Tomlinson (@TystenTomlinson) December 17, 2025

“Hopefully the chiefs can get him back as soon as possible.”

“I know hes gonna be doing everything he can to get back out on that field for the Chiefs”

Sounds like a man that won’t be playing next year

— Renaissance Man (@Billsfandiehard) December 17, 2025

Kelce also became emotional talking about the honor of playing in the NFL:

“I think that’s the mentality. There’s an integrity thing here that, when you sign up for the gig, you’re living out your dreams, you’re living out a kid’s dream that never got a chance to do this you’re living out, you know…man. You’re playing this game obviously to win Super Bowls… but at the end of the day, you’re playing in the NFL. And that’s a f—ing blessing. That’s an honor. It’s an honor to be out there.”

Of course nothing’s official until it is, so Travis might just be frustrated from the season but ultimately decide to come back for one more year. But with the way he’s talking now, I wouldn’t bet on it.

And honestly, why would he want to come back? He’s marrying his billionaire superstar wife, his podcast is making him hundreds of millions of dollars himself…go spend some of that money and enjoy life, man.The post Chiefs Fans Think Travis Kelce Hinted That He’s Retiring With His Comments On Patrick Mahomes’ Injury first appeared on Whiskey Riff.