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With the Kansas City Chiefs officially eliminated from playoff contention, the next piece of massive business in K.C. is determining Travis Kelce‘s future. Will he return for a 14th season for his age-37 campaign? Will he ride off into the sunset with three Super Bowl rings and await his gold jacket in five years?
It was natural for ESPN to broach the topic with Jason Kelce, now an analyst for the network,
ahead of Monday night’s game in Pittsburgh.
“In my opinion, to nail that decision, you gotta step away from the game for a little bit,” Kelce said when asked about his brother potentially retiring, via the Kansas City Star. “Play these last three games, enjoy ’em with your teammates, enjoy ’em with your coaches. The team is going to be different whether or not you come back next year. Then play these three games and then let it sink in. It’ll come to you with time.
“There are so many emotions with this game right after a season, especially with the way this one’s been. … And right now, it’s just too fresh. You gotta step away from it, you gotta think about it, and then it’ll come to you.”
Chiefs DB Jaylen Watson earns award for impressive Week 14 moment | Chiefs Wire
The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t have much to feel good about following their Week 14 loss to the Houston Texans. They did get inspired play from the defense, especially in the second half, slowing down Houston’s offense.
NFL Play Football selected Chiefs defensive back Jaylen Watson’s perfect open-field tackle to end a promising Texans drive as the week’s NFL Way to Play Award.
The NFL Way to Play Awards, fueled by Gatorade, recognize pro, high school, and flag football players who demonstrate proper technique to make impactful plays. Each week of the NFL season, players from all levels of the game will be honored with a USA Football Equipment Grant from the NFL Foundation.
NFL Week 16 latest buzz, questions, news and fantasy tips | ESPN
Fowler: The Chiefs were already forced to look in the mirror well before the Mahomes injury. If anything, his absence will remind Kansas City how much it will miss him — and how much it needs to strengthen the roster around him. Despite Mahomes’ pedestrian (for his standards) numbers, people I’ve talked to inside the league did not see him as the problem for the offense’s struggles. The way Mahomes got hurt, grinding for every inch on the field, was an example of just how much he had to manage to simply manufacture first downs this season.
“The fear factor with him is still thick,” said one NFL coordinator who recently prepared for him. “He’s still the best at winning differently each week. I still fear that player more than most. It just didn’t go their way this year.”
I expect the Chiefs’ roster to be vastly improved by the time Mahomes returns, which should be some time next season, though Week 1 feels awfully ambitious. He faces a lengthy nine-month recovery from a torn ACL and LCL, a timeline that threatens the early portion of the 2026 season. That he had the surgery so soon after the injury occurred was telling.
Ranking the Top 30 NFL Head Coaching Candidates for 2026 | The Ringer
Current job: Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator
NFL experience: 26 seasons
Archetype: Defensive schemer
Scheme: Blitz-happy 4-3 defense
Coaching influence: Andy ReidThis could be Giants or bust for Spagnuolo. At 65 years old, the Chiefs defensive coordinator probably doesn’t have much time left to land his second head coaching job—and he’s almost certainly not going to risk giving up his job security in Kansas City to land in an unfamiliar place.
He won his first Super Bowl coordinating the 2007 Giants defense, and he’s built a legendary resume of effective game plans in the playoffs during his time on Andy Reid’s staff. And while his scheme is getting a little easier for opposing offenses to anticipate this year, that’s only because the rest of the league has been studying how to beat him specifically for the last six seasons.
If I were Spags, I’m riding the wave in Kansas City to its bitter end. Head coach aspirations aside, life in the NFL will never be better than coaching on a team led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, even if the team could be in transition next season. No need to let perfect be the enemy of good.
NFL Week 16 Power Rankings: Broncos climb, Lions fall | PFF
21. Kansas City Chiefs (Down 14)
Chance of making playoffs: 0%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 0%
It’ll be hard not to eulogize the Chiefs after their 16-13 loss to the Chargers in Week 15. That firmly, and finally, shut the door on the Chiefs’ postseason ambitions, but the bigger storyline coming out of the loss was the torn ACL suffered by Patrick Mahomes (76.0 grade; 15th). The Chiefs were likely heading into an offseason of transition — something that needed to happen if they wanted to compete in 2026 and beyond — but with Mahomes likely on the shelf to start next season, their path to contention becomes less clear.
Mahomes will presumably return to full health and take his rightful seat at the table once again, but it’s fair for Chiefs fans to feel the doom and gloom of it all. There’s been some Chiefs fatigue over the last few seasons — purely because of their continued success — but the NFL will be a little less exciting without Mahomes on the field. But he’ll be back.
Around the NFL
Sources: Dolphins bench Tua Tagovailoa in favor of Quinn Ewers | ESPN
The Miami Dolphins are benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and turning to rookie Quinn Ewers as their new starter, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
Ewers’ first start will come Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Ewers served as the team’s backup quarterback for its Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and briefly entered the game but has otherwise been the Dolphins’ emergency quarterback.
The Dolphins also are releasing veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon, a source told ESPN, confirming a report by NFL Network. After signing with Miami in August, Judon played primarily on special teams and as a rotational pass rusher in 13 games (three starts). After the Dolphins traded linebacker Jaelan Phillips at the deadline, Judon saw increased snaps, but he didn’t record a sack this season. The four-time Pro Bowler will have the chance to sign with a playoff contender if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs’ rookie Ashton Gillotte sets the table for larger role in 2026
A look at the numbers
Playing 42% of the defensive snaps, Gillotte has 27 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and six quarterback hits. He has also contributed 69 total snaps on special teams this season. The numbers are modest, but in line with what Kansas City has asked of him.
The rookie was slated third string on the depth chart in the preseason, but injuries to Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Janarius Robinson forced him into a larger role. Gillotte still had to wait his turn behind veterans George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, and Charles Omenihu at defensive end, but he has flashed more often as the season has progressed.
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