It’s only Week 2, but the former Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski, seems not to be convinced that Travis Kelce can still be the solution to the growing mess inside Kansas City. The Chiefs walked off the field after a 27-21 loss to the Chargers, where the defense had no solution for Justin Herbert, who completed three touchdowns.

The defense was so messed up that in the fourth quarter, LB Drue Tranquill got into a heated exchange with DT Chris Jones. Kelce’s collision with WR Xavier Worthy left his teammate with a dislocated shoulder. But the Chiefs can’t afford another slow start now that they have to face Super Bowl champions Eagles in their next game. And if the Chiefs somehow end up 0-2, Gronkowski won’t be the only one pointing out the flaws.

Four-time Super Bowl champion Gronkowski didn’t hold back on the Up & Adams Show. “Travis Kelce is going to be used in situational football. I don’t think that you can depend on him, first, second, third down, and every single play, but in situational football, he can come through for them.” It’s a harsh reality. Kelce has already cemented his place among the all-time greats, posting seven straight 1,000-yard seasons between 2016 and 2022. But the last two years told a different story.

In 2023, he managed 93 catches for 984 yards and five scores. Last season, he dipped further: 97 catches but just 823 yards. And three touchdowns with a career-low 8.5 yards per reception. The fewest in his career aside from his rookie year, when he appeared in just one game. Against the Chargers in Week 1, he had only 2 catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Not bad, but not like the prime Kelce either. Gronkowski had also added before how he believes, “The Eagles are going to have the big advantage, and they’re going to come out swinging once again versus the Kansas City Chiefs. And to overcome that wide receiver situation is going to be really tough. And Hollywood Brown, that’s going to be the name that the Kansas City Chiefs will be dependent on…”

That dependency was clear in São Paulo. Brown logged more snaps than any offensive player not named Patrick Mahomes. Or a starting lineman, despite missing the entire preseason. He brought in 10 of 16 targets for 99 yards but struggled at times to sync with Mahomes. Meanwhile, Kelce is facing the same question he was asked before Super Bowl LIX: has he lost a step? And with the Chiefs coming into Arrowhead for a revenge game, the stage is set for Kelce to prove whether he’s still capable of being more than just a situational threat.

Is Travis Kelce nearing retirement?

Travis Kelce is in his 13th season with the Kansas City Chiefs, rewriting what a tight end can be. From the day he walked into Andy Reid’s first camp back in 2013, Kelce has been more than a weapon. He’s been KC’s heartbeat. But now, with the ring finger taken by Taylor Swift and his final contract year ticking away, the question is whether he wants to keep running this gauntlet at all. A source close to him didn’t mince words: “This should be the end. As Travis anticipates he will hang it up after this season, no matter how hard that decision will be, he has a lot to look forward to in TV and in life—and he has his brother and Taylor to thank for that.”

The call is Kelce’s alone, but the factors are clear. The Chiefs are making another Super Bowl? That could script a Hollywood-ready swan song. Falling short again? That doubt creeps in faster than a pass rush off the edge. And while Swift isn’t pushing him toward the exit—“Taylor is not going to be the Gisele or Yoko of Travis and his career”—her presence and Jason Kelce’s seamless TV transition make life after football look a lot less terrifying. He’s leaned toward leaving, but Kansas City would gladly offer another deal.

And make no mistake, the fire’s still there. Kelce scored in the season opener in Brazil, even while catching a punch to the front of his helmet from Teair Tart—who mocked him online with a “too Swift” jab after the game. Years later, he is still carrying the same grit Andy Reid instilled when veterans once complained about practice intensity. But even warriors know when the armor starts to weigh heavier.