Patrick Mahomes sends message to Travis Kelce ahead of AFC Championship as retirement questions loom

Patrick Mahomes sent a touching message to teammate Travis Kelce this week — amid speculation of a possible retirement for the tight end ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship game.

During an interview on 96.5 The Fan Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shared his thoughts on whether their home game against the Buffalo Bills this weekend would be Kelce’s last hurrah at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

“I have no idea. He hasn’t said anything to me if he’s thinking that,” Mahomes, 29, replied.

“I know he signed a two-year extension before the season, it seems like he still loves football. But he also has a great life, as well,” he added, referring to the $34.25 million contract the game show host signed with the Chiefs in April 2024.

The dad of three said that regardless of whether Kelce, 35, decides to retire or not, he is happy to be playing with him.

“Either way, I just appreciate every time I step onto the field with that guy knowing that he’s a true legend of not only the Chiefs, but of the NFL,” Mahomes gushed.

“If it is his last game, let’s go out there and get him a win. If it’s not his last game, let’s go out and get him a win anyway.”

Retirement rumors have loomed for Kelce over the past year as he ages and as he does more with his career off the field, including acting and hosting, and his high-profile romance with Taylor Swift.

Last week, the three-time Super Bowl champ told Stephen A. Smith that he has been contemplating hanging up his cleats after 12 years of playing in the NFL.

“It changes every single day. I love everything that I’m doing in this building, but at the end of the day, I’m not having that extreme success on the field as I have individually,” he said on Jan. 15.

“I’ll reevaluate it like I always do, and I’ll probably tell myself how much I love this thing and I’ll come back next year.

If the Chiefs defeat the Bills this Sunday, they will secure a spot in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9, taking on the winner of the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Washington Commanders game.

If they go on to win the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy, the Chiefs would make history by becoming the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles.