Chris Jones has made a heartfelt appeal for his longtime teammate Travis Kelce to return for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The defensive tackle, who has played alongside Kelce for a decade, spoke candidly about their bond following the team’s Christmas Day defeat.
“I hope not, man,” Jones said when asked about retirement speculation.
“We have just been through so much together, and Travis has been a pivotal part of this offense for so long, and he’s been like a brother … I hope this isn’t the last year. I hope he gives it one more year. Just one more.”
Travis Kelce could retire at the end of the season as the Chiefs suffer a shoddy campaign
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Kelce’s future remains up in the air as his contract wraps up following the 2025 NFL season.
The 36-year-old tight end has spent 13 years in the league and isn’t quite ready to commit either way.
“I think I’m still searching for those answers,” Kelce told retired football star Tony Gonzalez in a Prime Video interview.
“The way this one ended with a sour taste in my mouth. I feel motivated, but I got to make the right decision for me.”
He’s made clear that his passion for the sport hasn’t faded.
Travis Kelce admits he has a decision to make
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“I feel like I still have a lot of love for this game,” Kelce explained. “I feel like if I came back it’d just be to answer that flame in my heart that I still love this thing.”
The Christmas Day clash with Denver proved to be a bittersweet occasion at Arrowhead Stadium.
As Kelce walked off the pitch after what could be his final home game, Jones was among the first teammates waiting for him.
The pair shared a meaningful moment together.
“I think we just walked through the tunnel together, you know what I mean?” Jones reflected. “We just walked through the tunnel together, talked about the game. You know, we dapped each other up.”
When asked whether the thought of it being his last home match crossed his mind, Kelce kept things light, joking about the Powerball jackpot instead.
Despite the emotional circumstances, Kelce’s numbers this season tell a story of continued excellence.
Travis Kelce has had a good season despite a tough year for the Chiefs
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PAHe leads Kansas City in receiving with 73 catches for 839 yards and five touchdowns.
In the Broncos defeat, he topped the team again with five receptions for 36 yards.
His fiancée Taylor Swift watched from a suite alongside his mum Donna Kelce, with the pair exchanging tense glances throughout the match.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been dating since 2023 | INSTAGRAM / TAYLOR SWIFT
Kelce acknowledged the weight of the moment, saying he felt “a whole lot of emotions” with everyone watching.
The Chiefs have one final fixture remaining – a clash with the Las Vegas Raiders on 4th January.
