Mahomes Praises Travis Kelce After Costly Drop vs. Texans amid Chiefs Retirement Buzz

Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes isn't taking the rest of this season for granted in terms of enjoying his continued aerial connection with tight end Travis Kelce.

"Every season I've had with him these last few years, I try to cherish because you never know [if this will be his last]," Mahomes said after Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans. "He got himself in great shape this year and he's played great football. He'll have the option to do whatever he wants to do after this season, but I know one thing: He'll give everything he has for the rest of this season to try to give us a chance to make a playoff run."

Kelce hasn't said this will be his final year, though he's a free agent in the offseason. His production is once again trailing below his usual standards as well. He has caught 60 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns.

In the Texans game, Kelce was targeted five times but had only one grab for eight yards.

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Perhaps the biggest factor when it comes to the 10-time Pro Bowler's future is that the Chiefs could miss the playoffs altogether in 2025. At 6-7, they sit 10th in the AFC.

Kelce isn't getting any younger, and he's becoming increasingly aware that Kansas City needs a reset in order to be a Super Bowl contender again. The concerns about the supporting cast around Mahomes, which predated this year, are finally manifesting on the field.

Nobody would blame the 36-year-old pass-catcher if he decided to walk away once the season ends.

The Chiefs have four games left on the schedule. Even if their postseason outlook doesn't improve, the next month potentially being the last in Kelce's storied career provides a compelling subplot to follow.