Chiefs Star Defends Travis Kelce Amid Retirement Speculation

Pro Bowl DT Chris Jones fires back at ESPN analyst who thinks the Chiefs should move on from their veteran tight end.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for the upcoming NFL free agency period, the future of veteran tight end Travis Kelce has been a topic of much debate. While some analysts, like former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum, believe the Chiefs should move on from the 36-year-old Kelce, his teammate, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones, strongly disagrees and told Tannenbaum to "shut up" on social media.

Why it matters

Kelce has been a cornerstone of the Chiefs' offense for nearly a decade, making the Pro Bowl in six straight seasons. His potential departure would be a significant loss for the team, so Jones' public defense of his teammate signals the importance of Kelce to the Chiefs' locker room and the team's reluctance to move on from the future Hall of Famer.

The details

Tannenbaum, now an ESPN analyst, argued that the Chiefs should "move on from Travis Kelce" because his "best days are behind him" and the team needs to "get younger, faster, and more explosive at the tight end position." However, Jones, a Pro Bowl defensive tackle, quickly fired back on social media, telling Tannenbaum to "shut up." Jones has been one of Kelce's biggest advocates in recent seasons as the tight end has weighed his retirement options.

  • Kelce is set to become a free agent in approximately three weeks, when the new NFL league year begins on March 13, 2026.

The players

Travis Kelce

A 36-year-old tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs who has made the Pro Bowl in six straight seasons and is considered a future Hall of Famer.

Chris Jones

A Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs who has been a vocal advocate for keeping Kelce on the team.

Mike Tannenbaum

A former NFL general manager who is now an analyst for ESPN and believes the Chiefs should move on from Kelce.

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What they’re saying

“I would move on from Travis Kelce. And let me tell you why: when you're in the front office, you have to project when a player is done. I've made that mistake countless times in my career. 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, ESPN Analyst (Newsweek)

“Shut up…..🤫”

— Chris Jones, Pro Bowl Defensive Tackle (X (Twitter)

What’s next

Kelce has yet to make an official decision on his future, but it's believed he will inform the Chiefs of his plans before free agency begins on March 13, 2026. If he does return, most expect him to take a significant discount from the $17.125 million salary he made last season.

The takeaway

This debate over Kelce's future highlights the difficult decisions NFL teams must make when it comes to aging stars. While Tannenbaum may have a point about Kelce's declining production, Jones' passionate defense of his teammate shows the value Kelce still holds in the Chiefs' locker room and the reluctance to move on from a future Hall of Famer.