The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2024 season was a rollercoaster of glittering milestones and gut-punch realities. Travis Kelce, the 35-year-old tight end put up 97 receptions for 823 yards and 3 TDs—his lowest yardage since 2014. Yet, he still shattered records: hitting 12,000 career yds faster than any TE in history and snagging his 1,000th catch while passing Tony Gonzalez as the Chiefs’ TD king. But after a Super Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles (40-22), where Kelce managed just 4 catches for 39 yards, the whispers got louder: Is it time?

Andy Reid isn’t waiting around for an answer. Rumor has it he’s reshaping Kelce’s role, asking the future Hall of Famer to step back as a “role player” while grooming new blood. Think Tom Brady in Ted Lasso—still clutch, but letting the newbies shine. “I’ve thought about [retirement],” Kelce admitted post-game, “but I still love what I do.”

In Super Bowl LIX, Travis Kelce’s performance was a microcosm of the Chiefs’ struggles. Facing a relentless Eagles defense, Kelce managed just 4 catches for 39 yards. A far cry from his usual playoff heroics. The Eagles’ D-line, playing like they were auditioning for The Purge, shut down KC’s offense early, building a 24-0 halftime lead that felt insurmountable.

Kelce did surpass Jerry Rice’s record for most career Super Bowl receptions (35). But it was a bittersweet milestone in a 40-22 loss that ended KC’s quest for a three-peat. “We haven’t played that bad all year,” Kelce admitted post-game, summing up a night where even Mahomes looked human. For a team built on big moments, this was a rare flop on the grandest stage

But let’s not kid ourselves. Asking Kelce to take a backseat is like asking Thor to share Mjölnir. This is a guy who made “86” jerseys as common in Kansas City as burnt ends. Yet, the Chiefs’ front office isn’t sentimental. They’ve seen legends like Tony Gonzalez walk, and they know the drill: adapt or get dunked on by the Eagles’ defense again.

Kelce’s deadline? March 14, 2025. That’s D-Day for his $11.5M bonus. If he stays, he’ll be Reid’s crafty veteran—a red-zone whisperer and locker-room hype man. If he goes, the Chiefs are betting on Hendershot’s upside and Firkser’s familiarity. Either way, Mahomes loses a safety net but gains new toys. And hey, if Kelce pulls a Gronk and un-retires by Week 6? Nobody’s complaining

Chiefs’ TE room stacked?

Chiefs are hedging bets, signing TEs like Peyton Hendershot (Cowboys castoff) and reuniting with Anthony Firkser, who once helped Tennessee’s 2019 AFC Championship run. Andy Reid’s playbook is no stranger to evolution. He turned Mahomes from a Texas Tech gunslinger into a two-time MVP.

Now, he’s eyeing Travis Kelce’s heir. Enter Peyton Hendershot, a 25-year-old TE acquired from Dallas for a bag of peanuts (a 2026 7th-round pick). Hendershot’s no Kelce—yet—but Reid’s system thrives on mismatches. Pair him with Noah Gray, the Chiefs’ underrated Swiss Army knife, and suddenly KC’s TE room looks less like a one-man show and more like Ocean’s Eleven—smooth, strategic, and stacked with specialists.

Meanwhile, in Tennessee, the Titans are stuck in NFL purgatory—a 3-14 record, zero winning seasons since 2021, and a front office that makes the Godfather Part III look competent. Losing stars like A.J. Brown (Eagles), Jonnu Smith (Patriots), and now Firkser (back to KC) have fans roasting management harder than a Thanksgiving turkey. “I’m not listening to a guy who said we should’ve kept Mike Mularkey,” one X user clowned after DE Jeffery Simmons begged for Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter on Cleats and Convos. “He’s a Dawg,” Deebo Samuel barked—and Carter’s stats back it up: 68 tackles, 23.5 TFLs, and 12 sacks in 2024 alone.

But Tennessee’s front office keeps fumbling the draft like The Office’s Michael Scott at a job fair. While they hem and haw, the Chiefs are swiping their leftovers. Firkser, who racked up 1,207 yds and 5 TDs in 78 games for Tennessee, is now Kansas City’s insurance policy. “We need another edge guard,” Simmons pleaded. But unless the Titans stop hemorrhaging talent, they’ll be the NFL’s next Cowboys—all hype, no hardware.

But let’s be real. Watching Travis Kelce morph into a mentor feels like seeing Tony Stark hand Iron Man’s suit to Spider-Man. Bittersweet, but necessary. As March 14 looms, Chiefs Kingdom holds its breath. Will Kelce ride into the sunset or chase one more ring as Reid’s wisecracking wingman? Either way, the Chiefs aren’t leaving 2025 to chance. And the Titans? Well, maybe they’ll finally draft someone who doesn’t ghost them for Philly cheesesteaks.