The Kansas City Chiefs closed out their season with a 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, January 4, and now, Travis Kelce and company are looking ahead. For Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, they’ll obviously be with the franchise for the 2026-27 season, but that’s not necessarily the case with Kelce.
Even though the Chiefs are ending their 2025-26 run without a trip to the playoffs, it was still an exciting season for Kelce. He continued to clock strong numbers with the Chiefs and finished the season with 76 receptions, 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 17 games.
As Kelce makes his decision about whether to return to the NFL next season, he’s getting some heartfelt props from some important voices. Those voices are the students at Operation Breakthrough, an organization that’s been helping children and families in Kansas City since 1971.
Students at Operation Breakthrough Send Heartfelt Messages to Travis Kelce
On Monday, January 5, the Kansas City Chiefs posted messages from students at Operation Breakthrough on social media. In the messages, students are thanking Kelce for his loving work for the charity organization and saying how much it means to them.
“Operation Breakthrough is a not-for-profit corporation providing a nurturing and safe environment for children of the working poor that began in 1971 by Sister Corita Bussanmas and Sister Berta Sailer,” according to the organization.
The organization adds, “The organization responded to the need for quality child care and provided a nurturing and safe environment for children in poverty.”
In the Instagram post, they commented, “The impact Travis has made on our families and community for over ten years has been absolutely incredible. Thank you, @killatrav for always supporting us and truly inspiring our kids.”
“Operation has grown and expanded over the years but the vision has been for all children to have the opportunity to achieve their full potential,” Operation Breakthrough states on their official website.
It’s certainly heartwarming to see Kelce give back, even during the busy Kansas City Chiefs season.
Travis Kelce Addresses Retirement After Kansas City Chiefs Loss
After the Chiefs’ loss to the Raiders, Kelce spoke with reporters about the timeline for his retirement decision. Even though the Kansas City Chiefs lost their final game of the season, Kelce said he was still proud of his teammates.
“I’m proud the way we finished, even though it ended the way it did,” he said. “Guys showed up, gave it their all, and that’s all you can ask for.”
When he was asked about when he might make the decision, Kelce said it wouldn’t come to him as easily as last year. “Who knows?” Kelce told reporters. “Who knows? It either hits me quick or I’ve got to take some time. Last year, it was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away, I wanted to give this [year] a shot. We’ll see.”
Before the Kansas City Chiefs’ December 25 game in a pre-recorded interview that aired on Amazon’s Prime Video, Kelce also talked about retirement, stating, “I think I’m still searching for those answers. Obviously, the way this one ended with a sour taste in my mouth.”
Travis Kelce Receives Heartwarming Message After Chiefs Season