> At a Glance
> – Chris Jones told reporters he expects Travis Kelce to return for a 14th season
> – Kelce, 36, hinted he’ll decide after exit meetings and family time
> – The tight end just became the third ever to reach 13,000 career yards
> – Why it matters: Chiefs Kingdom braces for a potential farewell to a franchise icon
Kansas City’s season ended with a 14-12 loss to the Raiders on Jan. 4, and post-game chatter instantly pivoted to whether Travis Kelce has played his last NFL snap. Defensive anchor Chris Jones, 31, wasted no time batting down the idea.
Jones: “I’m Not Buying It”
Asked what he’ll remember most if Kelce retires, Jones cut the question off mid-stream:
> Chris Jones stated:
> “I’m not buying it. He’ll be back next year.”
Pressed for a guarantee, Jones smiled: “I can’t promise you anything about another man … I just don’t know. This year was tricky, but I got faith in my dawg coming back.“
A Decade-Long Bond
Jones and Kelce arrived in Kansas City together 10 seasons ago. The defensive tackle offered a lighthearted scouting report:
- “Came in such a handsome guy and now he’s got grey hairs-no I’m just playing.”
- “He brings energy, passion … one of the best tight ends to ever play.“
- “And he has the best cookies, I gotta give it to him.”
Kelce’s Side of the Story
Kelce, fresh off joining the 13,000-yard club, sounded more contemplative:
> Travis Kelce said:
> “I love this team … I’ll spend time with them, go through exit meetings tomorrow, get close to the family and figure things out.“
He admitted last year’s Super-Bowl loss produced an immediate urge to run it back; this time he’ll wait and “see where I’m at.”
| Milestone | Value |
|---|---|
| Career receiving yards | 13,000 |
| Seasons in NFL | 13 |
| Seasons with Chris Jones | 10 |
Key Takeaways
- Jones is openly campaigning for one more Kelce season
- Kelce will take time before deciding, citing family and exit meetings
- Chiefs finished the year without Patrick Mahomes, heightening the emotional finale
- The tight end’s legacy is already cemented regardless of his choice
Whether the red and gold faithful see 87 trot out again in 2025 remains an offseason cliffhanger.
