Travis Kelce may take to the field for the final time in his NFL career this Sunday when Kansas City faces Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium, and his longtime partner Patrick Mahomes will not be present to witness it.
Head coach Andy Reid confirmed on Monday that the injured quarterback is unlikely to accompany the squad to Nevada.
When asked whether Mahomes would travel with the team, Reid responded: “Nah, probably not. Not this soon, no.”
Should Sunday’s Week 18 fixture prove to be Kelce’s farewell appearance, supporters will have already witnessed the celebrated pair share an NFL pitch for the last time.
Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes might have already played their last game together
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The 36-year-old tight end has been contemplating stepping away from the sport for some time, though he has yet to make any formal announcement regarding his future.
Throughout his distinguished 13-year stint with the Chiefs, Kelce has claimed three Super Bowl titles and established numerous NFL and franchise records.
His performances have noticeably waned in recent seasons, yet having achieved so much at the highest level, the veteran has little left to demonstrate.
Despite Kansas City’s campaign effectively ending weeks ago, Kelce remained committed to his teammates rather than walking away early.
He is widely regarded as one of the finest tight ends in league history.
Travis Kelce might be about to hang up his boots on an incredible career
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The quarterback-tight end combination developed into arguably the most dominant partnership of its kind in recent NFL history, accumulating an extraordinary 78 touchdowns together across regular season and playoff contests since 2018.
Their on-field chemistry propelled Kansas City to five Super Bowl appearances, with the pair securing championship rings on three occasions.
However, 2025 has brought considerable disappointment for the franchise.
The Chiefs enter their final fixture with a 6-10 record, marking their first losing campaign since 2012 – the season before Kelce joined the organisation.
With Mahomes sidelined through injury, the legendary tight end faces a meaningless contest in what could be his swansong.
Mahomes underwent surgery on 15 December in Dallas to repair torn ACL and LCL ligaments in his left knee, sustained during the Week 15 clash with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Patrick Mahomes faces a significant spell on the sidelines | GETTY
Reid provided an encouraging update on his star player’s rehabilitation efforts.
“He’s around, so he’s in the building. Working and doing his rehab,” the coach explained.
“He’s spent a lot of hours doing it, he really attacks that and will continue to do that.”
Travis Kelce is currently mulling over NFL retirement | GETTY
Kelce has spoken positively about his teammate’s recovery mindset, suggesting Mahomes will approach his rehabilitation with maximum competitiveness and should be prepared for next season’s opener.
