On Thursday, the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Denver Broncos for a Christmas Day showdown at Arrowhead Stadium. And if you’re one of the fans that will be in attendance for the AFC West clash, count yourselves as lucky – you may end up witnessing history.

The NFL rumor mill has been hot all season with gossip that Kelce may be planning to call it quits and end his career following this season. Kelce has spent 13 years in the NFL, and recently got engaged to fiancée and global pop star Taylor Swift. He also saw his brother, Jason, who began his NFL career two years before him, choose to retire after the 2023 season. And with the Chiefs’ dynasty at a low point in what has been over a decade-long stretch of success, fans are really wondering if this could be it for the legendary tight end.

Advertisement

If this does end up being his final season, then Christmas Day 2025 will mark Kelce’s final home game with the Chiefs, meaning a game that has little impact left on this season for the Chiefs could be historic in franchise history and a box-office draw. If it does end up being Kelce’s last hurrah, he’ll do it without the quarterback he’s won three Super Bowl rings with, as Patrick Mahomes was lost for the season due to injury in Week 15. Third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun will get the starting nod for the Chiefs.

It seems fans certainly believe this could be Kelce’s last home appearance, and the betting odds on the most popular prediction markets represent that. The odds have been steadily rising over the past few days, with Polymarket odds sitting at 67% in favor of Kelce hanging up his cleats following the season, the night before the Chiefs-Broncos showdown.

When asked on Tuesday if Kelce planned to retire following this season, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid didn’t have a direct answer, but put the veteran’s career in perspective in case this is the end of his career.

“I don’t know if it is. I haven’t talked to him,” Reid said. “But I think his numbers, and personality, the person, I think speaks for themselves. Phenomenal person. Great for the community, has been great for the community. He’s everything you want from a player representing an organization.”

Advertisement

Kelce led the fan vote in the Pro Bowl, so he will be guaranteed to be sent off with one final honor if his career is about over. But it may be hard for some Chiefs fans to accept Christmas will be the final time Kelce trots out onto the playing surface at Arrowhead Stadium. Kelce, who contemplated retirement last season before returning after his team’s Super Bowl loss, deflected from answering questions on his retirement last week while sounding like a player acknowledging his time may soon be up.

“I’d rather keep the focus of the media and everything on this team right now,” Kelce said. “All the conversations I have with the team and everything moving forward will be with them. I think it’s a unique time in my life. Unfortunately, I’ve got three games left, and I know when the season ends this year.”

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Don’t miss Travis Kelce’s potential final bow at home this Christmas!