Inside Travis Kelce's Christmas night: From emotional anthem to possible final catch

Pete Grathoff, The Kansas City Star on Dec 26, 2025

Published in Football

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — All eyes (and television cameras) were on Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on Christmas night.

Kelce’s future was on everyone’s mind Thursday because his contract with the Chiefs expires at the end of the regular season. Kelce has remained mum about his future plans, but it’s no stretch to think he’ll hang up the cleats following the Chiefs’ final game against the Raiders.

If that happens, Kelce would have played for the last time at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Thursday’s game against the Broncos. And that’s why there was so much attention paid to him.

Here is how the night went for Kelce, who was shown frequently during the broadcast.

Arrival at Arrowhead: Kelce wore a wool coat on an unseasonably warm Christmas night.

— Pregame: Kelce unsurprisingly got a huge ovation.

— The national anthem: Kelce didn’t break down during the national anthem, but it did look like he tried to keep his emotions in check.

— 1:34 remaining in the first quarter: Kelce catches an 11-yard pass from quarterback Chris Oladokun for a Chiefs first down.

— First play of second quarter: Kelce has a 2-yard reception.

— 5:52 remaining in the fourth quarter: Kelce encourages the fans at Arrowhead Stadium to make some noise ahead of a third-down play for the Broncos.

— 1:45 left in the game: Kelce catches a 4-yard pass.

— 1:26 remaining: On the very next play, Kelce has a 5-yard reception.

— 1:03 left in game: Oladokun kept feeding Kelce, this time throwing a 14-yard pass to the tight end. Could this be Kelce’s final catch at Arrowhead?

— Postgame: The Chiefs lost, 20-13, and afterward Kelce was greeted by a number of Broncos players. He then threw his gloves into the stands for the fans and headed down the tunnel to the Chiefs locker room, perhaps for the last time at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kelce was asked after the game if he pondered the possibility that he would be playing for the final time at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas. He offered up a joke.

“No, the only time it ever crossed my mind is I was driving in the other day and I saw how much the Powerball (jackpot) was,” Kelce quipped about the $1.8 billion prize. “And I was like man, if I could just win that, I wouldn’t have to work another day in my life.”

Some fans might think he’s already won the biggest prize of all by being engaged to superstar singer Taylor Swift.