Emotional Kelce praises Chiefs after possible last game at Arrowhead - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If Thursday night's game was the last one Travis Kelce played at Arrowhead Stadium, he sure tried to make it memorable.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end had only five catches for 36 yards against the Denver Broncos playing alongside third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun while starter Patrick Mahomes and backup Gardner Minshew were out with knee injuries. But several of those catches came in the closing minutes, nearly rallying Kansas City in what would have been a stunning upset of the Broncos.

Kelce & Co. wound up losing 20-13 in a game in which they were nearly two-touchdown underdogs.

But it was a gutsy display by Kelce in a career filled with them.

The four-time All-Pro, who is expected to announce soon after the season whether he is retiring, could have hung up the cleats a couple of weeks ago, when the reigning AFC champions were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in a decade.

After going to five Super Bowls — including the past three — and winning three championship rings, the 36-year-old Kelce instead showed he had too much pride to quit on a lost season. He played in a humiliating loss at the lowly Tennessee Titans last week. And he was one of the few bright spots on Christmas for an offense that finished with 139 yards in all.

«A whole lot of emotions,» Kelce said afterward. «You've got everybody in the world watching you. You get to go out there with the young guys on prime-time television. Young guys getting an opportunity to taste what this NFL life is like.»

As for retirement?

«I'll let that be a decision I'll make with my family, friends, the Chiefs organization when the time comes,» Kelce said.

He was the final player introduced Thursday night, following Oladokun