The future of Travis Kelce has been the subject of speculation since before February’s Super Bowl. Many believed that the legendary tight end would retire if the Kansas City Chiefs completed their much-anticipated three-peat, leaving the game on the highest of high notes. That didn’t happen, though, leaving the player wanting to make amends in 2025.
When recently asked about Kelce’s potential retirement next year, Patrick Mahomes seemed unconvinced.
‘If It’s the Last Ride, You Would Never Know’ – Patrick Mahomes on Travis Kelce
Mahomes took time out to talk to the press during the team’s OTAs and revealed that Kelce has been working hard to have a better year in 2025. Though the Chiefs made the Super Bowl (again) last season, Kelce recorded his fewest receiving yards since his rookie year (2013), when he played just one snap on special teams.
His three receiving touchdowns were also the fewest since 2013, with the player being accused of saving himself for the playoffs. If Mahomes is to be believed, though, Kelce has shown no signs of slowing down this offseason and is determined to improve on last season’s numbers.
“If it’s the last ride, you would never know,” he said of his esteemed teammate. “The way he’s talking about football, the way he’s talking about working and trying to be even better this year than he was last year. He doesn’t seem like a guy that it’s his last year, like he’s tired of the job.”
Patrick Mahomes on this potentially being Travis Kelce’s last year: “If it’s the last ride, you would never know … It doesn’t seem like a guy that it’s his last ride – or he’s tired of the job.” #Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/iZZYAupzXv
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) May 29, 2025
Chiefs Face an Improved AFC West in 2025
The Chiefs have won the AFC West in nine straight seasons, which is the longest active spell of divisional dominance in the NFL by a distance. However, with all three of their divisional rivals changing head coaches in the last two seasons, that long run of dominance could be under threat.
Sean Payton, Jim Harbaugh, and now Pete Carroll have joined Andy Reid in the AFC West, making for some intriguing matchups. The Denver Broncos have been transformed under Payton and made their first playoff appearance since 2015 last season. The Chargers, meanwhile, have had another offseason of building their roster to suit Harbaugh and should be very competitive in 2025.
The Raiders have gone through changes at almost every level, with a new general manager, head coach, and quarterback brought in this offseason. The team drafted a star in Brock Bowers last year and looks to have repeated that feat after landing Ashton Jeanty in April.
With the Chiefs’ competition improving in a big way again this year, they’ll need their star tight end to rediscover some regular-season form if they’re to make it 10-straight AFC West crowns.