Travis Kelce did his greatest to absorb in each second Thursday night time for what may need been the final recreation the 36-year-old performs at Arrowhead Stadium.
With out star quarterback and shut buddy Patrick Mahomes, in addition to backup Gardner Minshew, as they’re each sidelined with knee accidents, Kelce solely had 5 receptions for 36 yards with third-string Chris Oladokun.
Most of these catches got here towards the tip of the sport, when the Chiefs almost rallied within the closing minutes, however they ended up falling to the Broncos, 20-13.
The four-time All-Professional, who’s anticipated to announce his retirement determination quickly after the season, was appreciative of the Chiefs’ fan base in his postgame press convention.
“You solely get a number of of these the place you simply get to face there and admire 60 to 70,000 Chiefs followers screaming for you,” stated Kelce, who was the final participant launched by way of the Chiefs tunnel because the followers roared for what could be the final time for him.
“I at all times embrace that second, man. It’s enjoyable. Hopefully I received all people fired up for it.”
After falling to the Eagles within the Tremendous Bowl in February, lacking a historic three-peat, it was a tough capsule to swallow for Kelce if he left his profession behind after that.
Nevertheless, this season has not gone as anticipated for the Chiefs (6-10) and they’ll miss the playoffs for the primary time since 2014.
There may be quite a lot of satisfaction to swallow for Kelce, who has had a stellar profession as among the best tight ends in NFL historical past.
“A complete lot of feelings,” Kelce stated. “You’ve received all people on this planet watching you. You get to go on the market with the younger guys on primetime tv. Younger guys getting a possibility to style what this NFL life is like.”
When requested about retirement following the sport, the three-time Tremendous Bowl champ stated, “I’ll let that be a call I’ll make with my household, mates, the Chiefs group when the time comes.”
Kelce is ready to be married to pop star Taylor Swift in 2026 after he popped the query in August, and the brand new step within the relationship has had many speculate that Kelce won’t be enjoying within the NFL subsequent 12 months.
Swift was noticed in a collection supporting her fiancé within the Christmas Day recreation on Thursday.
Mahomes and Minshew had been additionally watching their teammate from a luxurious box as Kelce performed his 97th recreation contained in the stadium.
Over his 13-year profession, he has caught 645 passes at Arrowhead, together with the postseason, which makes for the third-most by any participant at a single stadium.
“You’re feeling the generations of happiness and the love that [the fans] have,” Kelce stated. “It’s an attractive factor, man. It’s one thing I do know I’ll cherish perpetually, whether or not it’s popping out of the tunnel or simply making a giant play for them. That’s why we love Arrowhead.”
The Chiefs end the season subsequent week in Las Vegas and a few have puzzled whether or not he’ll play in that contest, which might permit him to have completed his profession at Arrowhead Stadium.
