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Rumors are swirling once again about Travis Kelce’s possible NFL retirement after fans zeroed in on new comments from teammate and close friend Patrick Mahomes. With Kelce’s record-breaking career, mounting injuries, and high-profile life off the field fueling constant speculation, Mahomes’ latest remarks have reignited the conversation about whether the Kansas City Chiefs star could be nearing the end of his playing days. Here’s what Mahomes recently said about the Chiefs’ tight end and how it differs from his past comments.

Patrick Mahomes recently commented on Travis Kelce’s potential future NFL retirement

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Travis Kelce is in the media headlines more than ever, thanks to his high-profile romance and engagement with Taylor Swift. However, it’s his future with the Kansas City Chiefs that has everyone wondering what he’ll do next. Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes recently commented on Kelce’s future in the NFL — and it has some fans worried.

“Every season I’ve had with him these last few years, I try to cherish, because you never know,” Mahomes said after losing to the Houston Texans on Sunday, Dec. 7, according to Page Six.

“He got himself in great shape this year, and he’s played great football,” Mahomes added. “He’ll have the option to do whatever he wants to do after this season, but I know one thing: He’ll give everything he has for the rest of this season to try to give us a chance to make a playoff run.”

“We know the chances are getting lower and lower,” the quarterback continued.

Back in January 2025, Mahomes also commented on Kelce’s potential retirement while speaking on Kansas City’s 96.5 FM.

“I have no idea,” Mahomes said at the time. “He hasn’t said anything to me if he’s thinking that.” The quarterback added that Kelce “seems like he still loves football,” but he knows that the tight end has a “great life” aside from the NFL.

What does Travis Kelce’s NFL contract say?

In April 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs and Travis Kelce agreed to a revised two‑year deal worth $34.25 million, the Associated Press reported. This restructuring was intended to keep him with the franchise through the 2025 season under new financial terms.

Under this arrangement, Kelce’s 2024 compensation was bumped to $17 million (fully guaranteed), achieved by reducing his 2024 base salary but replacing per‑game roster bonuses with a one‑time $11 million roster bonus, according to Arrowhead Pride. For 2025, his deal was structured to pay a total of $17.25 million. A large portion of that sum, mostly the roster bonus, was slated to become guaranteed by mid‑March 2025.

The contract terms made Kelce one of the highest‑paid tight ends in NFL history on a per‑year average at the time, with an average annual value of roughly $17.125 million.

Currently, Kelce hasn’t signed a new deal for 2026. Fans anxiously await to see what he’ll do as he preps for marriage to Taylor Swift.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end might not be ready to retire in 2026

Patrick Mahomes’ comments about Travis Kelce’s future with the NFL have everyone talking. However, Kelce hasn’t made any announcements about his plans just yet. In June 2025, Kelce said he and the Chiefs plan to “figure out something” for 2026.

“I got one year on this contract, I know that. And we’ll try to figure out something for next year,” Kelce said, according to KCTV5.

“The Chiefs organization knows how much I love them,” the tight end continued. “I can’t see myself playing anywhere else. We’ll deal with (2026) down the road, when the time is right. But right now, I’m focused on winning a championship this year.”

With this in mind, it seems Kelce didn’t have retirement on the brain over the summer. However, NFL fans will have to wait and see how he chooses to move forward with his career.

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