Chiefs' Chris Jones: Travis Kelce and I Will Have to Retire Together in 4-Plus Years

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones doesn't plan to let tight end Travis Kelce retire without him.

"He's got like four or five more years, and what is he talking about retirement for?'' Jones asked (h/t Sports Radio 810 WHB.) "We can't let TK go. It's like, we retire, we've got to retire together. Give me like, at least six more years, then we'll talk about it.''

Jones, who is heading into his age-30 campaign, signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs in March.

Kelce, who will turn 35 at the beginning of the season, is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2025 campaign.

The two have played together since 2016 and each served key roles in the Chiefs' three Super Bowl wins since 2020.

"Listen, I don't think about it, man," Jones said. "Once you begin to think about things like that, you're getting to feed the mind those types of thoughts. I don't even want my mind to even go that far, to the R word."

"But Trav, he's f--king pretty old. I'm just playing, Trav, I love you."

The defensive tackle's comments follow Kelce urging Jones to return to the Chiefs during his contract holdout at the beginning of the 2023 season.

Jones' interview took place the day after Kelce said he "can't put a timeframe" on when he will retire from the NFL.

"You know, I really can't put a timeframe on it man," Kelce said (h/t FOX 4 Kansas City's Harold R. Kuntz.) "I love coming to work every single day. Obviously, I know that there's opportunities outside of football for me, and I think you gotta keep in perspective that I'm still a little kid when I come into this building, man.

"I know I'm 34 years old, about to be 35, but I have a love to do this right here, in the middle of the heat in June. I love coming to work every single day and doing this. So I'm gonna do it until the wheels fall off, and hopefully that doesn't happen anytime soon."

The Chiefs and Kelce agreed to a new deal in April, which effectively served as a raise rather than an extension.

Jones will hope the Chiefs eventually agree to a longer contract with Kelce, as will the team. Kansas City will need Kelce to continue serving as a top target for Patrick Mahomes as the team looks to extend its championship window as far as possible.