At 6-7, the Kansas City Chiefs have their backs against the wall.
Travis Kelce is still searching for an escape path. After two crucial drops in a 20-10 loss to Houston on Sunday night — including one that led to a game-sealing interception — the 36-year-old tight end expressed frustration during the latest episode of his “New Heights” podcast.
“You put in all this f—ing work and hope that it pays off,” Kelce said, via ESPN. “And right now, it’s just for whatever f—ing reason, man, it’s little things. I feel like I’ve always had the answers in years past. And this year, I just can’t find them.
“I keep thinking if I show up to work and I put in the work and I fix the issues through my practice habits and through perfecting the game plan and my fundamentals and what I’m being taught, and go out there and try and play my ass off for my guys next to me, it’s all going to come together like it has in years past. And this year it is just not, man.”
Kelce wasn’t the only Chiefs player responsible for drops in the prime-time defeat; three other drops were charged to teammates, including two by Rashee Rice on fourth down. But Kelce’s drops loomed large in the loss because of his established reputation as a reliable target for Patrick Mahomes over the majority of the last decade.
If the Chiefs’ dynasty is on the verge of collapse, Kelce’s drops typified it.
Father Time’s role in the matter cannot be overlooked, either. At 36 years old, Kelce has shown glimpses of his old self but hasn’t broken 1,000 receiving yards in a season since 2022. Much like they followed his brother, future Hall of Fame center Jason, over the final few years of his career, questions regarding Kelce’s future in football have increased in volume and prominence in 2025.
Even Mahomes had to comment on it this week.
“Every season I’ve had with him these last few years, I try to cherish because you never know [if this will be his last],” Mahomes said of Kelce after the loss to Houston. “He got himself in great shape this year and he’s played great football. 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 for the rest of this season to try to give us a chance to make a playoff run.
“We know the chances are getting lower and lower.”
