Getty

Tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The writing is on the wall for the Kansas City Chiefs‘ 2025 season, and may be too for the career of Travis Kelce.

The superstar tight end caught just one pass for eight yards against the Houston Texans on “Sunday Night Football.” He bobbled what should have been a simple first-down reception late in the fourth quarter, which resulted in an interception that sealed the Chiefs’ fate in just about the closest thing to a must-win game outside of a single-elimination playoff context.

In the aftermath, Kelce decline multiple interview requests in the locker room.

“Chiefs WR Rashee Rice left the locker room before reporters entered,” Jesse Newell of The Athletic reported. “Tight end Travis Kelce declined interview requests twice.”

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote on Monday that Kelce could be subject to punishment from the league for ducking media inquiries following the defeat.

“All players (except those in the concussion protocol) are required by the NFL to speak to reporters after every game,” Florio wrote. “It’s not the first time Kelce has declined to talk this year, either after a game or during the week.”

“Players have been fined in the past, if/when the failure to comply with media obligations becomes chronic, and if the media covering the team complains about it,” Florio continued. “Sometimes, the media doesn’t make waves.”

Travis Kelce’s Reluctance to Speak With Media May Indicate His NFL Career Nearing Close

GettyQuarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes stand up in front of media members after every game, which hasn’t been easy across a 6-7 season that could see the Chiefs miss the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.

Thus, Kelce’s lack of public accountability is objectively troubling and could speak to a loss of appetite on the tight end’s part for the scrutiny and criticism that comes with being an athlete who has long stood atop the mountain in his sport but is now dealing with the inevitable decline of time.

Mahomes opened up about Kelce following the Texans game, when he spoke to reporters from the podium.

“Every season I’ve had with him these last few years I’ve tried to cherish because you never know,” Mahomes said. “He got himself in great shape this year and he has played great football, and he’ll have the option to do whatever he wants to do after this season. But I know one thing, he’ll give everything he has the rest of this season to try to give us a chance to make a playoff run.”

Travis Kelce’s Avoidance of Media Somewhat Ironic Considering His Podcast, Potential Future as Analyst

GettyTight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Florio pointed out that Kelce is already part of the wildly lucrative “New Heights” podcast with his brother Jason Kelce, which has already inked a $100 million deal and will likely continue its profitability for years into the future.

Kelce is also so famous, in part due to his relationship and engagement to Taylor Swift, that he is likely to have his pick of media jobs as an analyst and/or broadcaster whenever he decides to retire. Then, of course, there is Kelce’s burgeoning acting career in both television and film to consider.

Therefore, it is somewhat ironic that he has recently shied away from the spotlight in difficult moments, when the spotlight is something he has actively sought and earned rewards for basking in when times have been good.

Max Dible covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible

More Heavy on Chiefs

Loading more stories