Footage of a dejected Travis Kelce appearing to “give up” on Patrick Mahomes during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl defeat has left fans furious.
The Chiefs suffered a crushing 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans on Sunday night, ending their dreams of a historic three-peat. Though the final score made it seem closer, Philadelphia dominated for most of the game, at one point leading 34-0.
Did Kelce Abandon Mahomes? Viral Footage Sparks Outrage
Mahomes struggled under pressure, throwing two costly interceptions—including a pick-six—while being sacked six times in a brutal night for the Chiefs.
But one controversial moment in the third quarter has sparked intense debate.
A now-viral clip shared on Reddit shows the Chiefs on the Eagles’ 40-yard line. As Mahomes scrambles under pressure from three defenders, Kelce is seen at the bottom of the screen throwing his arms out in frustration instead of making a play.
The Moment That Has Chiefs Fans Fuming
As Mahomes fights to make the first down, Kelce remains rooted to the spot—leaving Eagles linebacker Oren Burks free to slam into Mahomes as he dives to the ground.
Chiefs fans erupted on social media, slamming Kelce for his lack of effort:
• “Kelce’s man, who he probably could’ve blocked, HAMMERS Mahomes. Inexcusable.”
• “Throwing his hands up in frustration BEFORE THE PLAY IS EVEN OVER? That’s unacceptable at any level—especially in the Super Bowl from your supposed leader.”
• “Kelce played like a 35-year-old TE riding the high of success for too long, and he just crashed back to reality. He looked slow, winded, and disinterested.”
• “Fk that. Strange lack of effort. If you pulled that in college, good luck watching tape.”**
Some fans even linked his attitude to his relationship with Taylor Swift, with one joking:
“Mans was so demoralized he wasn’t gonna get to propose after the three-peat that he couldn’t get his head back into the game.”
Kelce’s Disappointing Super Bowl & Retirement Talk
Kelce was largely ineffective in the Chiefs’ loss, recording just four catches for 39 yards while Swift watched from a VIP suite—where she was booed by fans.
Following the devastating defeat, Kelce admitted on his New Heights podcast that retirement is on his mind.
“The fact that we keep going to these AFC Championships and Super Bowls means I’m playing an extra three games than everybody else,” he explained. “That’s a lot of wear and tear. It’s grueling. It can weigh on you. It can drive you crazy.”
Kelce admitted that this season felt different, and for the first time, he struggled with doubts about his future.
“When you feel yourself not having the success you used to, it’s a tough pill to swallow,” he said. “And then, to not be there in the biggest moments, knowing your team is counting on you—it’s just a tough reality.”
Will Kelce Walk Away?
For now, Kelce says he’s taking time to decide his future.
“If I do come back, it has to be a wholehearted decision. I don’t want to half-a it. “I think I can still play, but I need to decide if I’m motivated and if it’s the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility.”
With retirement looming and his Super Bowl performance under scrutiny, fans are now left wondering: Has Travis Kelce already checked out of football?
