Jason Kelce reacts to Travis Kelce retirement rumors after Chiefs' loss
Dec 16, 2025
Originally appeared on E! Online.
Jason Kelce is sharing his game plan for Travis Kelce’s next career move.
After the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday knocked the three-time consecutive AFC champions out of playoff contention this season, Jason shared his th
oughts on his little brother’s potential retirement.
“I’m curious, too,” the former Philadelphia Eagles center said of the move on ESPN’s Monday Night Football on Dec. 15. “In my opinion, to nail that decision, you’ve got to step away from the game for a little bit.”
Although Travis, 36 — who has been the Chiefs’ tight end for 13 seasons — and his teammates won’t have a chance to compete at the Super Bowl for the fourth consecutive year, they will finish up their final games in their regular season.
“Play these last three games, enjoy them with your teammates, enjoy that with your coaches,” Jason emphasized. “The team’s going to be different whether you come back or not next year. So, enjoy these last three games and then let it sink in. It’ll come to you with time.”
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“There’s so many emotions with this game right after a season, especially with the way this one’s been,” he added. “It’s been so up and down … They’ve been close and right now, it’s too fresh. You got to step away from it, you got to think about it. Then, it’ll come to you.”
And it was an especially difficult loss as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL during the game after the two-time MVP was tackled by Chargers defensive end Da’Shawn Hand. The QB underwent surgery the following day, the team confirmed.
When it comes to making a major career change, Jason — dad to daughters Wyatt, 6, Elliotte, 4, Bennett, 2, and Finnley, 8 months, with wife Kylie Kelce — knows the feeling all too well. After all, the 38-year-old announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons with the Eagles in March 2024.
It was an emotional decision for the entire Kelce family, with Travis — who recently got engaged to Taylor Swift— shedding tears as Jason recounted their bond during his speech.
“We have a small family,” Jason said at the press conference. “No cousins, one aunt, one uncle. It was really my brother and I our whole lives. We did almost everything together — competed, fought, laughed, cried and learned from each other.”
“There is no chance I’d be here without the bond Travis and I share,” Jason — who shared a sweet hug with Travis after his announcement — added. “It made me stronger, tougher, smarter and taught me the values of cooperation, loyalty, patience and understanding. It’s only too poetic I found my career being fulfilled in the City of Brotherly Love. I knew that relationship all too well.”
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