⚡ FLASH NEWS: Travis Kelce shocks fans by putting retirement rumors aside as he locks in on the Titans showdown.QQ
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Travis Kelce pushes back on retirement talk, wants to focus on Chiefs’ remaining games | The Athletic
“I think I’d rather just keep the focus of the media and everything on this team right now,” Kelce said. “All the conversations that I have with the team and everything moving forward will be with them.”
Kelce acknowledged Friday that this is a “unique time in (his) life.” He recently became engaged to pop star Taylor Swift, and their wedding is set for next summer.
So why take part in these three final games, which are meaningless for the Chiefs’ playoff hopes? Kelce said it came back to playing the game he loves.
“You can roll the balls out in a Walmart parking lot, man. Sign me up, baby,” Kelce said with a smile. “If I get a chance to play in the NFL, I’m gonna do it.”
What we’re hearing on the Chiefs: Backup QB Gardner Minshew, a seven-year veteran, will be the team’s starter for the final three games after Patrick Mahomes tore two ligaments in his left knee last week. The stretch will serve as an audition for Minshew to remain with the Chiefs next season. After all, the Chiefs don’t have another QB under contract for 2026. “It’s an opportunity to step in and do my job,” Minshew said. “Being how there’s a lot of guys that have put a ton of work into this, I owe it to them. I owe it to this coaching staff, this team [and] this fan base to go out and do my best to give us the best chance to win.” — Nate Taylor
What we’re hearing on the Titans: The Titans are looking to close out their home schedule with two wins, starting with the Chiefs. “That’s the plan to win both of those at the crib and go into next year with a little home-game winning streak because that’s what our fans need to see,” QB Cam Ward said. Tennessee hasn’t won consecutive games at Nissan Stadium since December 2021, but with RB Tony Pollard having posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances, the Titans are molding into a physical, run-first team down the stretch. — Turron Davenport
Stat to know: The Titans are 4-2 versus the Chiefs since Andy Reid became coach in 2013. Tennessee is one of four teams with a winning regular record versus Kansas City under Reid. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Chiefs DT Chris Jones will record multiple sacks. Since Week 12, Jones has led all players in pass rush win rate regardless of alignment. His 31% PRWR in that span was well ahead of the next-best player (Micah Parsons at 26%). — Walder
NFL Week 16 picks, odds, predictions: Best bets, survivor plays from our team of experts | CBS Sports
Chiefs -3.5: “The Chiefs have been eliminated from the playoffs and Patrick Mahomes is lost for the season. How focused will they be here? Does it matter? The Titans are bad and Gardner Minshew is more than capable of having a solid game. Chiefs win it.” — CBS Sports Senior NFL analyst Pete Prisco on why he has Kansas City winning and covering over Tennessee.
Taylor Swift Reveals How Travis Kelce’s Eras Tour Appearance Was Decided On in New Doc | Bleacher Report
“How do I put this? Travis is like… He’s a real… He’s a real yes guy, like in terms of life itself,” Swift said on the fourth episode of her Taylor Swift: The End of an Era documentary series (h/t Daniela Avila of People). “He’s just up for anything.”
Kelce showed up during Swift’s London show as part of a skit for “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart,” where the 14-time Grammy Award-winner is brought to life by her backup dancers in tuxedos and top hats. Kelce replaced one of her dancers in the same attire for his show.
“I can’t remember how it came up,” Swift said in the docuseries, via Avila. “I think we were just joking around about him doing it, him getting up there with Kam. And it became very clear that he, like, wasn’t joking. And I was like, ‘Oh wait, no, you would do that?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, it would be hilarious.’ I was like, ‘If you’re serious about this, I will send your measurements to wardrobe, and they’ll get you a tux, like, are you serious?’ And he’s like, ‘Put me in. I’m in.’”
Hall of Fame WR says Chiefs are watching end of Travis Kelce’s career in real time | Arrowhead Addict
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.”
No Way Kelce Retires | The Feed
There is absolutely no way Kelce retires… He’s all heart, and there’s no way he’s going down on a losing season with Mahomes on the turf. He will not let his best friend come back without him. Mark my words!
Around the NFL
Early winners in 2026 NFL free agency: Eight players making bank with contract-year performances | NFL.com
Kyle Pitts
Atlanta Falcons · TE · Age 25
The Falcons drafted Pitts fourth overall in 2021, and the tight end kicked off his career with a 1,026-yard debut campaign — then spent most of the next three seasons teasing the football world with his freakish athletic talents, averaging just 36.9 yards per game in that span. This season, though, his production has finally again begun to match his potential on the perimeter. The 6-6, 250-pound pass catcher could post the second 1,000-yard season of his career, especially following a spectacular Week 15 performance (11 catches, 166 receiving yards and three touchdowns) that showcased his ability to create and exploit mismatches against linebackers and safeties. As creative play-designers look for athletic tight ends to build around, Pitts could emerge as an enticing option on the free-agent market.
