Travis Kelce retirement questions grow as Taylor Swift attends Chiefs’ latest setback

December 15, 2025 Oliver Obel

According to figures reported by Reuters and Sky Sports, Kansas City’s 16–13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers officially ended a run of playoff appearances stretching back to 2014. The slide represents a sharp turn from February, when the franchise came within reach of a rare third straight Super Bowl title.

The disappointment deepened late in Sunday’s game when quarterback Patrick Mahomes exited with a left-knee injury. The Associated Press later confirmed the two-time MVP tore his ACL, an update that casts doubt on the team’s immediate outlook and intensifies questions about how the Chiefs will reshape their roster.

Kelce’s future still unresolved

Kelce, 36, has been the subject of retirement talk for months. Sky Sports previously reported that he plans to wait until the offseason to decide, quoting him as saying he hopes to settle the matter before the draft and free-agency period begin. “All of that will be after the season,” he said. “I won't think about it until then.”

His stance has not changed publicly, but as the Chiefs’ season has unraveled they now sit 6–8 fans have revisited those earlier remarks. Kelce’s production has remained steady, with more than 800 receiving yards to date, yet the physical toll of an 11-year career has increasingly become part of the conversation among analysts.

A notable crowd in Los Angeles

Adding to the chatter, Taylor Swift attended Sunday’s matchup at SoFi Stadium, seated with members of both families. The gathering included Jason and Kylie Kelce’s daughters, who have not been widely seen at a Chiefs game since 2023. While family support has become a familiar sight this season, the size of the group drew attention from fans online who wondered whether the moment might hold some significance.

With only three regular-season games left and just one at Arrowhead Stadium some supporters suggested this may have been one of the more practical opportunities for both families to attend together. Others dismissed the speculation entirely, pointing out that no one close to Kelce has signaled a decision is imminent.

No public hints from Kelce or Swift

Swift has not commented on the retirement rumors. Earlier this year, Kelce told reporters she encourages him to enjoy the game and continue pursuing his goals, saying he has “all the support in the world” as he weighs his future.

For now, there are more questions than answers. The Chiefs face a final stretch defined by injuries, uncertainty, and a playoff race that has slipped beyond their reach and Kelce’s eventual decision looms as one of the offseason’s most closely watched storylines.

Sources: Reuters, AP, Sky Sports