Travis Kelce retirement row: Chiefs star makes big statement vs Cowboys; ‘he is number 1’

Travis Kelce might have dismissed all retirement rumors with a stellar show against the Dallas Cowboys at the Thanksgiving game on Thursday

Published on: Nov 28, 2025, 04:27:43 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Travis Kelce might have dismissed all retirement rumors with a stellar show against the Dallas Cowboys at the Thanksgiving game on Thursday. Even as fans looked for the No. 87's fiancée, Taylor Swift, in the crowd, the 36-year-old scored a brilliant touchdown to impress Chiefs' supporters.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

“I think we all came into this season thinking that this would for sure be Travis Kelce's last season, but he's been playing like he has year(s) left,” Chiefs reporter Pete Sweeney posted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Travis Kelce playing this great at 36 years old isn’t being talked about enough. His longevity isn’t appreciated enough,” another fan tweeted.

Travis Kelce's top show

With Kansas trailing the Cowboys all through the first half, Kelce came through. He handed Mahomes and co the lead just before the second quarter started. The 36-year-old connected with Patrick Mahomes for a two-yard touchdown.

In Q2, Kelce again came alive. He took a 22-yard grab from Mahomes to keep his team in contention.

Travis Kelce retirement talks

There was a lot of chatter around Kelce's retirement even before the season started. He, however, told ESPN that the Chiefs deserved clarity before the offseason.

“You know, seeing my brother go through it … I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity to know whether I come back or not,” he said. “I’d like to make that decision before they’ve got to get draft picks and free agency opens up.”

The star TE added that he will only think of his future after the season is over. Kelce is currently on a $34.25 million contract.

"Whether [the team] wants me back or not, it's one of those things where I'd like to make that decision before they've got to get draft picks and free agency opens up," he said. “So, all of that will be at the end of the season and I won't be thinking about it until then.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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