Andy Reid must know the end is here for Travis Kelce after worst game of year and retirement looming

Travis Kelce was in a perfect position against one of the worst teams in the NFL.

But the week after an injured Patrick Mahomes was lost for the season, Kelce responded with his worst performance of the year.

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Hard to ignore Kelce’s continued slide

The future Hall of Famer had one catch for six yards against the lowly Tennessee Titans, while the Kansas City Chiefs were beaten 26-9 by a three-win team.

No one doubts Mahomes’ commitment to the Chiefs in 2026 and beyond.

Andy Reid is also reportedly already planning to return next year, despite Kansas City recording its first losing season with Big Red as the Chiefs’ head coach.

Kelce has asked for time and regularly declined to answer questions.

But as hard as it is to imagine the 36-year-old tight end going out like this, Reid and the 2026 Chiefs are increasingly being left with no choice.

During a three-week span when Kansas City was trying to save its season and return to the Super Bowl — a supposed ‘revenge tour’ for a squad that was blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles in the last big game — Kelce has responded with two of the weakest contests of his career.

He only caught one pass for eight yards during a 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans on December 8.

On Sunday in Nashville, Kelce was even worse, collecting just six yards while the Chiefs turned to two backup QBs.

Frustration mounting within Chiefs

“That’s where it’s mostly frustrating, is that we’ve seen spurts or
parts of the season where we are that team that I think we could make a run at a championship,” said Kelce, before the Chiefs fell to the Titans.

“And then times where we don’t even deserve to be in the playoffs.”

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While a seven-catch, 70-yard outing in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers highlighted Kelce’s best recent work, his last five overall games have been more telling.

The 13-year veteran has only surpassed 45 receiving yards once since November 17, and his numbers have tailed off while the Chiefs have fallen to a disappointing 6-9.

Tickets for what should be a huge mid-week matchup vs the Denver Broncos are available for $49.

Anyone entering Arrowhead Stadium for Thursday Night Football could be watching Kelce’s final home game with the Chiefs.

“I’m going to make sure these guys know that I’m giving them everything I got,” said Kelce, leading up to the Titans game.

Chiefs too dependent on declining Kelce

The gradual on-field decline of No. 87 is only one of the Chiefs’ many issues in 2025.

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Kelce hasn’t reached 1,000 receiving yards since 2022, but the bigger problem is that a 36-year-old tight end is still Kansas City’s top pass catcher.

Kelce leads the Chiefs in targets (96), receptions (68) and receiving yards (803).

That displays Kansas City’s continued overreliance on a vet who’s no longer elite at his position, but also reveals underperformance from wide receivers Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Kansas City has a receiver problem

Kelce’s last month between the lines is proof that Reid and the Chiefs must make a hard internal decision before the NFL offseason begins.

Kansas City general manager Brett Veach should already have a succession plan at tight end — and know that one catch from the team’s ‘best’ receiver isn’t championship quality.

Kelce wasn’t good enough in the last Super Bowl, and hasn’t been close to a Pro Bowl level in December.

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“I’ve thrown that thing in the trash,” said Kelce, referring to a humbling defeat that saw Kansas City trail the Eagles 34-0.

During a time when the Chiefs were trying to save their 2025 season, Mahomes was lost for the year and Kelce couldn’t hide his age.

Bill Belichick‘s New England Patriots dynasty would have already moved on from No. 87.

If the Chiefs want to dream of another ring in 2026, they need a healed Mahomes, better wide receivers, and a tight end who accomplishes more than one catch for six yards against one of the NFL’s worst teams.

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