The Kansas City Chiefs' season isn't officially over but it certainly feels like it is. The team has been eliminated from playoff contention before Christmas, which has been unheard of for this franchise during the Andy Reid/Patrick Mahomes era.
It's been that kind of year though sadly and now with Mahomes out for the year, the attention turns to Travis Kelce. Are we seeing the final three games of his NFL career? Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter sure seems to think this is it for Kelce.
"[Kelce's] game has moved to a different dimension. When he catches the ball, he's trying to protect the football and get back. He can't make anybody miss anymore. He can't get 25 to 30 yards down the field to get to the reception area there... He's not the threat that he used to be," Carter said on Up & Adams. "Father time is undefeated. It happened to Gronk, it happened to Brady and this happened to Travis Kelce right before our eyes."
HOF WR Cris Carter doesn't see Travis Kelce returning next year:
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 15, 2025
"When he catches the football, his objective is not to fumble and he can’t make anybody miss anymore… Father Time is undefeated."@criscarter80 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/Dvqd2LslCR
When Kay Adams asked if Carter thinks Kelce will come back for a 14th NFL season, Carter said that he believes Kelce is done in the NFL.
"This is the way we all look at the end of our career. You go back and look at year number 16, Cris Carter playing with the Dolphins... You're going to be like, oh my gosh, who is that guy? It happens, but it's a reality."
Chiefs collapse sparks fitting Travis Kelce retirement chatter
Chiefs fans knew the end was coming for Kelce soon and many even thought that time was going to come following Super Bowl 59 but he decided to return for another year. A big reason why is that he probably didn't want to go out the way K.C. went out in Super Bowl 59 but obviously, things didn't get better this year.
Now not only will Kelce not finish his career in the Super Bowl but he might have a losing record for the first time in his pro career. Kelce's numbers aren't bad by any means but he's definitely not himself anymore so Carter was right with what he said there. It's been clear that he's not the same player anymore and the tone he's had in recent weeks definitely points to him calling it a career in under a month when the season officially wraps up.