Travis Kelce dodged the media again after the Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs, marking the first time in over a decade the team isn’t postseason-bound.
“Sorry guys, it’s not the time,” Kelce, 36, told reporters in the locker room on Sunday, December 14, per ESPN. “I’ll catch you guys during the week.”
The Chiefs lost 16-13 to the Los Angeles Chargers, officially eliminating them from playoff contention for the first time since 2014.
Refusing to speak to the media after losses has become a habit for Kelce this season, who also skirted the responsibility following the Chiefs games against the Houston Texans on December 8 and the Denver Broncos on November 16.
Instead, Kelce has taken to using his “New Heights” podcast as a way to discuss the Chiefs’ difficult season in a more controlled setting.
Kansas City wide receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy left the locker room before it was even open to media members on Sunday, according to The Athletic.
It was a devastating afternoon for the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, which also saw quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffer a torn ACL on the team’s final drive of the game.
“Don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes, 30, posted via X after the game. “And not going to lie it’s hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever ⏰.”
Mahomes underwent an MRI on Sunday, which confirmed the injury. The team announced Mahomes is “currently exploring surgical options.”
With his teammates balking at addressing the loss on Sunday, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones was left to be the voice of the locker room during the postgame press conference.
“Success is rented every year,” Jones, 31, said. “Sometimes it don’t go the way you planned for it to go. I think we learned a lot this year.”
He added, “We can be mad at ourselves, and we can ask God why. But at times, it’s a lesson that you’re being taught along the journey. We’d be selfish to ask God why. Why right now? Why this? We more so [have] to understand it and build from it.”
Jones said he was able to briefly see Mahomes after the game before taking to the podium.
“I just hugged him, man,” Jones told reporters. “That’s my brother. We’ve been through so much. We love Pat.”
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also spoke to the media after the loss on Sunday, taking the brunt of it on the chin.
“We weren’t quite good enough in all three phases,” Reid said. “That’s my responsibility to make sure you don’t have these kinds of mistakes. I’ll look in the mirror first on this.”
The Chiefs return to action on Sunday, December 21, when they travel to Tennessee to face the Titans. Gardner Minshew, who took over as quarterback after Mahomes was injured, is expected to start.
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