Travis Kelce has broken his silence over his decision not to talk with the press following the Kansas City Chiefs’ elimination from the 2025-2026 playoffs — and it wasn’t because they lost.
Kelce, 36, addressed the drama surrounding him shutting down interviews on Sunday, December 14, telling reporters on Friday, December 19, that it was as a consequence of Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ injury.
“Yeah, I talked to him afterward. It was before the MRI,” Kelce explained in the course of the Friday press conference, confirming that he briefly spoke with Mahomes, 30, following his ACL tear that occurred during Sunday’s loss.
The tight end added, “That’s why I kinda selected not to talk with the media right after that game.”
Kelce added that he has checked in with Mahomes — who’s out for the remaining of the season — for the reason that injury.
“That’s my brother, I do know every thing he’s going through and all that. I just [want to] keep it personal,” he shared.
The Chiefs’ loss on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers made headlines for a wide range of reasons — a couple of of which revolved around Kelce.
For starters, the team’s record for the 2025-2026 was delivered to 6 and eight, which is a losing record, something that’s rare for the Kansas City franchise.
Due to the loss, the Chiefs will play the remaining three games of their regular season schedule but won’t be within the playoffs, the primary time since 2014.
Throughout the game, Mahomes suffered a season-ending injury that was later confirmed as an ACL tear. He has since undergone surgery to repair the damage.
After the sport concluded, Kelce was approached by the media for comment but he refused to have interaction — which is unlike the legendary athlete.
“Sorry guys, it’s not the time,” Kelce told reporters within the locker room on Sunday, in response to ESPN. “I’ll catch you guys in the course of the week.”
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce. Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Kelce sidestepping the press didn’t sit well with some people, including ESPN personality Chris Russo.
“How about Kelce on Sunday afternoon?” Russo, 66, said in the course of the Wednesday, December 17, episode of ESPN’s First Take. “They simply lost a game. Mahomes tears his ACL. The last play of the sport [backup quarterback Gardner] Minshew goes to Kelce to try to kick a field goal. Intercepted. And Kelce, after he settles down within the locker room, he says, ‘Not today, fellas. I’m not going to talk over with you.’”
Russo took issue with Kelce leaving the “poor guys who’ve been covering the Chiefs over time” hanging.
“Day by day for seven months they cover the football team and also you blow them off at the tip of this game after they got Mahomes out? Perhaps the last game you’re ever gonna play [with him]? You possibly can’t give them three words?” he quipped. “You possibly can’t give them, ‘Terrible day for us, I don’t know what I’m going to do with my profession? Hopefully Pat can be OK.’”
Russo argued that Mahomes happening was “an enormous moment in Kansas City and NFL history” because it means next season for the team can also be up within the air. (Depending on his recovery, Mahomes may not start the 2026-2027 season.)
“You blow everybody off walking off the sphere and also you don’t talk over with the press and also you get within the automotive?” Russo added. “That’s improper. That just isn’t the approach to do things. You give them five minutes. Give them a few sentences for the Chiefs fans. Really down on him.”
Travis, meanwhile, later spoke in regards to the game on his and brother Jason Kelce’s “Latest Heights” podcast.
“We got three games left … the integrity of who you might be as an expert, as a player, you gotta love this s***, man. And Chiefs Kingdom, we’re gonna offer you every thing we got. There’s absolute confidence about that,” he told listeners on Wednesday, December 17. “There’s only a method I do things, there’s only a method Coach Reid does things, and if we’re gonna go on the market and play some football, we’re gonna do it the appropriate way and keep attempting to get these items fixed and end on the best note we are able to.”
As Travis’ media snub made heads, the Chiefs’ losing season has also brought an onslaught of chatter about his future within the NFL back into the highlight.
Travis has yet to announce whether he’ll retire after the present season, but he hinted he won’t make a choice until after the team’s final three games.
“I feel I’d slightly just keep the main target of the media and every thing on this team straight away,” Travis told reporters on Friday when asked whether he might’ve already played his last game with Mahomes. “All of the conversations that I actually have with the team and every thing moving forward can be with them.”
The NFL player — who can also be planning a marriage to fiancée Taylor Swift — noted, “Unfortunately, I got three games left and I do know when the season ends this 12 months,” because they didn’t make the playoffs, calling it a “unique time” in his life.