Chiefs Star Defends Kelce Amid Retirement Speculation

Chris Jones fires back at suggestion Kansas City should move on from veteran tight end

Feb. 25, 2026 at 9:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones strongly defended teammate Travis Kelce after a former NFL executive said the team should move on from the veteran tight end in the offseason. Jones responded bluntly on social media, telling the analyst to "shut up." Kelce, a three-time Super Bowl champion and 11-time Pro Bowler, has seen his stats decline in recent seasons, but remains a valuable target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Why it matters

Kelce is a future Hall of Famer and has been a key part of the Chiefs' success over the past decade. His potential departure would be a major loss for the team and its high-powered offense. The debate over Kelce's future highlights the challenges teams face in evaluating aging star players and deciding when to move on.

The details

Former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said on ESPN that the Chiefs should cut Kelce and look to upgrade the tight end position with a younger, faster player. Tannenbaum argued that the Chiefs need to project what a player can do now, rather than focus on past performance. However, Jones, one of Kelce's defensive teammates, strongly disagreed, simply responding "Shut up" on social media.

  • Tannenbaum made his comments on ESPN on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Chris Jones

A defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs who came to the defense of his teammate Travis Kelce.

Travis Kelce

A veteran tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, a three-time Super Bowl champion and 11-time Pro Bowler whose future with the team is in question.

Mike Tannenbaum

A former general manager of the New York Jets who suggested the Chiefs should move on from Kelce in the offseason.

Patrick Mahomes

The star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, who has relied heavily on Kelce as a target in the team's high-powered offense.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Shut up”

— Chris Jones, Defensive Tackle, Kansas City Chiefs

“I would move on from Travis Kelce and let me tell you why. When you're in the front office, you have to project what a player is going to do, not what they've done. I've made that mistake countless times in my career. And Travis Kelce is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but when you watch him and make an honest and sober evaluation of his 2025 performance, clearly, his best days are behind him.”

— Mike Tannenbaum, Former General Manager, New York Jets

What’s next

Kelce could still opt to retire, which would make the Chiefs' decision moot. But as of now, his future is still hanging in the balance, with the team needing to evaluate whether to move on from the veteran tight end.

The takeaway

This debate over Kelce's future highlights the difficult decisions teams face in determining when to move on from aging star players, even those who have been integral to the team's success over many years. The Chiefs will need to carefully weigh Kelce's current production and future potential against the potential benefits of bringing in a younger, faster option at tight end.