NFL veteran Jason Kelce has shared crucial advice with his younger brother, Travis Kelce, as the Kansas City Chiefs tight end grapples with a monumental decision about his future in American football. The guidance comes in the wake of a crushing end to the Chiefs' 2025 season, which has thrown the legendary player's career into doubt.
A Season Ends, Questions Begin
The Kansas City Chiefs' campaign officially concluded on Sunday, 15th December 2025, following a narrow 16-13 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers. This loss eliminated them from playoff contention, marking a dramatic fall from grace for a team that had recently achieved a historic run of success. Having appeared in three consecutive Super Bowls and secured back-to-back championships in 2024, the Chiefs now face their first postseason absence since 2014, finishing the regular season with a 6-8 record.
This disappointing conclusion has inevitably sparked intense speculation over the future of 36-year-old Travis Kelce. The veteran tight end, who is set to marry pop superstar Taylor Swift next year, had previously contemplated retirement after the Chiefs failed to achieve a 'three-peat' in the previous season's Super Bowl, where they were soundly beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brotherly Wisdom from Experience
Weighing in on the situation is someone with direct experience: his brother, Jason Kelce. The former Philadelphia Eagles centre, who retired after 13 seasons in 2023 and has since moved into broadcasting, offered his perspective during ESPN's Monday Night Football coverage.
"In my opinion, to nail that decision, you gotta step away from the game for a little bit," Jason stated ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers versus Miami Dolphins game. He advised Travis to "play these last three games, enjoy them with your teammates, enjoy them with your coaches... And then let it sink in. It'll come to you with time."
Jason emphasised that the emotional immediacy of the season's end can cloud judgement. "There are so many emotions with this game right after a season, especially with the way this one's been... Right now, it's just too fresh. You've gotta step away from it, you've gotta think about it and then it'll come to you."
The Mahomes Factor and a Change of Heart
Adding another layer to the retirement dilemma is the significant injury to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee during the final minutes of Sunday's loss and will miss the remaining three games of the season. ESPN analyst Ryan Clark suggested this could influence Travis's choice, noting, "It would feel extremely odd if somebody other than Patrick Mahomes throws Travis Kelce his last pass."
Despite the bleak outlook, a source close to Travis Kelce indicates the season's disastrous finish may have ironically solidified his desire to continue. The insider revealed that the tight end was heavily considering retirement but now wants to alter the narrative of his career's conclusion.
"[Kelce] was heavily considering retirement, and that was when he had other expectations for this season," the source said. "But how it has all turned out, he doesn't want to go out this way... Travis is now heavily considering going through the offseason with the same mindset in training and to do at least one more season. Give it one last run."
The source added that Kelce "wants to have one more ride with Patrick, wants to end it on his terms and not the nightmare that this season has turned out to be." This suggests a powerful determination to rectify the failures of 2025 and chase a final Super Bowl glory with his long-time quarterback, pushing retirement discussions at least another year into the future.
