12/23/25 01:21:00
Printable Page
12/23 13:19 CST Travis Kelce's possible final home game for the Chiefs: A
bittersweet Christmas showdown
Travis Kelce's possible final home game for the Chiefs: A bittersweet Christmas
showdown
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) --- Travis Kelce has played 96 regular-season home games
for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The next one might be the last.
The 36-year-old Kelce, who was chosen for the Pro Bowl for the 11th time on
Tuesday, will be inside Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night for a Christmas
showdown with the Denver Broncos.
And with the Chiefs eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in a
decade, and a trip to Las Vegas for their finale, it could be the last time
that Kelce walks off his beloved field.
"What Travis has done to this organization, to his teammates, his coaches, this
city --- it's special," Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. "I hope
like hell that's not true. I just have so much respect for him."
Kelce has not yet announced whether he will retire after a superlative 13-year
career in which he won three Super Bowl rings and was an All-Pro on four
occasions. But he has said that his decision will be made quickly after the
season ends, giving the Chiefs ample time to not only prepare for free agency
and the draft but their future without him.
"I'd rather just keep the focus on this team right now," Kelce said last week,
"and all the conversations I have with the team and everything moving forward
will be with them. And I think it's a unique time in my life, and unfortunately
I know when the season ends this year. Typically we go into it and we don't
know when it will end."
He's had a heck of a final season, if that turns out to be the case.
After doubling down on fitness after the Chiefs were waylaid by the Eagles in
the Super Bowl last February, Kelce has proceeded to play in every game during
a difficult season for the team. He has 68 catches for 803 yards, allowing him
to join Jerry Rice as the only players in NFL history to eclipse the 800-yards
receiving mark in 12 consecutive seasons.
Kelce also has five touchdown receptions, matching the most he's had in the
past three seasons.
And while Kelce could have shut it down after the Chiefs were eliminated from
postseason contention for the first time since his first full season in the
NFL, he has continued to take the field every day. He had a single catch for 6
yards in last week's 26-9 loss to the Titans, but it pushed his streak --- the
longest active one in the league --- to 189 games with at least one reception.
It didn't help that backup quarterback Gardner Minshew joined Kelce's good
friend, Patrick Mahomes, by tearing ligaments in his knee one week after the
two-time MVP. Chris Oladokun finished the game at QB and will start on Thursday
night against Denver.
"I will say this: What (Kelce) is going through even these last couple games
--- we're out of the playoffs, we're out, and he's out there every day,
practicing, leading, helping people out," Nagy said. "That should show a lot of
these younger guys why he's playing this game, and why he is so special."
NOTES: Cornerbacks Trent McDuffie (knee), Jaylen Watson (groin) and receivers
Nikko Remigio (knee), Rashee Rice (concussion) and Tyquan Thornton (concussion)
did not practice Tuesday. ... The Chiefs have signed quarterback Shane Buechele
as Oladokun's backup for the rest of the season. TE Noah Gray would serve as
the emergency quarterback.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
|
