Chiefs' Chris Jones Defends Travis Kelce from Retirement Speculation

Jones shuts down NFL analyst's suggestion that the Chiefs should 'move on' from the veteran tight end

Feb. 25, 2026 at 8:31pm

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Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones has come to the defense of teammate Travis Kelce, who is facing retirement speculation after a frustrating 2025 season. NFL analyst Mike Tannenbaum suggested the Chiefs should 'move on' from the 36-year-old tight end, but Jones quickly shut down that notion, tweeting 'Shut up' in response. Kelce, a 13-year veteran, is contemplating retirement but has the full support of the Chiefs organization, including owner Clark Hunt, who said the team hopes Kelce will return for the 2026 season.

Why it matters

Kelce is a key part of the Chiefs' offense and a future Hall of Famer, so his potential retirement would be a major loss for the team. Jones' public defense of his teammate shows the strong bond within the Chiefs' locker room and their desire to keep Kelce in Kansas City if he decides to continue playing.

The details

Tannenbaum, an NFL Front Office Insider for ESPN, argued that the Chiefs should part ways with Kelce, saying 'his best days are behind him' and the team should 'try to get younger, faster, more explosive at the tight end position.' However, Jones quickly shut down that suggestion, tweeting 'Shut up' in response to ESPN's post about Tannenbaum's comments.

  • Kelce recently wrapped up his 13th season with the Chiefs.
  • Kelce signed a two-year extension in 2024 that expires in March 2026.
  • Retirement rumors have surrounded Kelce since before the 2025-2026 season began.

The players

Chris Jones

A 31-year-old defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs who publicly defended his teammate Travis Kelce from retirement speculation.

Travis Kelce

A 36-year-old tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs who is contemplating retirement after 13 seasons in the NFL, all with the Chiefs.

Mike Tannenbaum

An NFL Front Office Insider for ESPN who suggested the Chiefs should 'move on' from Kelce.

Clark Hunt

The chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs, who said the organization hopes Kelce will return for the 2026 season.

Patrick Mahomes

The Chiefs' quarterback who suffered a season-ending injury in 2025, contributing to the team's frustrating season.

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What they’re saying

“Shut up... 🤫”

— Chris Jones, Defensive Tackle, Kansas City Chiefs (X)

“If I were Kansas City, I would make the right, albeit difficult, decision. Move on from Travis Kelce.”

— Mike Tannenbaum, NFL Front Office Insider, ESPN (ESPN)

“Well, as an organization, we certainly hope that he will come back. We're trying to be respectful and let him have the time that he needs to make a decision.”

— Clark Hunt, Chairman and CEO, Kansas City Chiefs (NFL Network)

What’s next

The Chiefs will wait for Kelce to make a decision on his future with the team in the coming months.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the strong bond between players on the Chiefs' roster, as well as the organization's desire to keep Kelce in Kansas City if he chooses to continue playing. The team's support for Kelce's decision-making process shows their commitment to their veteran star.