On Christmas Day, the buzz surrounding Travis Kelce was whether he intended to retire after the season, but the 11-time Pro Bowl player has quietly earned a spot on the list of NFL all-time honorees.
Kelce’s fifth and final catch, his 1,077th, in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos, pushed him away. Two more receptions in the Chiefs’ final game of the regular season would move Kelce above the No. 8 spot.
When Kelce left the field at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, likely for the last time, he wasn’t thinking about statistics. The Chiefs end their season next week on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Kelsey has been in a close relationship with fiancé Taylor Swift in recent years. Was this the last time we’d see music’s megastar enjoying his girlfriend’s reception? (If so, let’s just record that Swift was wearing Frankie Shop.)
Kelce, 36, has since acknowledged remorse.
“There are so many emotions,” he told reporters. “Everyone in the world is watching you. You get to compete with young players on prime-time TV. Young players are getting a taste of what life is like here in the NFL.”
For Kelce, life in the NFL has been fulfilling. He has won three Super Bowls and is almost certain to be in the Hall of Fame. And he’s played his entire 13-year career with the Chiefs.
Therefore, he soaked in the praise beforehand while processing his emotions and memories after the game.
“It’s only a few times that you get to stand there and thank the 70,000 Chiefs fans for cheering you on,” he explained. “I always embrace the moment.
“I feel the happiness and love (of the fans) across generations. It’s a beautiful thing, dude.”
For a decade, Kelce was a regional sports celebrity, respected throughout the Midwest as a solid and consistent producer on the field. Ahead of the 2022 season, his profile began to change when he and his younger brother Jason quickly started a popular podcast.
Kelce and Swift began dating ahead of the 2023 season, and a year later, the Kelce brothers signed a three-year, $100 million podcast deal. And in August, Kelce and Swift.
Tight ends traditionally don’t get the attention or attention because they are more like tackles or guards in their 3-point stance. But Kelce has now become a full-fledged national celebrity.
Just don’t let that obscure his numbers. Kelce had 73 catches for 839 yards in 2025, tying him as the only player in NFL history to eclipse the 800-yard receiving mark in 12 consecutive seasons. Kelce is also the only tight end to have over 90 catches in seven consecutive seasons, a streak that will end this year.
Rice, a former San Francisco 49ers great, has 1,549 catches in the NFL. Larry Fitzgerald is next with 1,432. Then comes the only tight end with more catches than Kelce: (1,325) and (1,228).
If Kelce decides to play another season, he would almost certainly move into fifth place, ahead of Owens and Marvin Harrison (1,102 games), Cris Carter (1,101 games) and Tim Brown (1,094 games).
Kelce may have already decided whether now is the right time to retire. He just isn’t ready to say so and has indicated he plans to let the Chiefs know as soon as the season ends.
“When the time comes, I will make a decision with my family, friends and the Chiefs organization,” he said.
