TE TRAVIS KELCE
Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes
December 19, 2025
OPENING STATEMENT: “The injuries – the guys who didn’t practice today were Leo (Chenal), Trent McDuffie, Jaylon Moore, Derrick Nnadi, Rashee (Rice), Jawaan Taylor and Tyquan Thornton. Then I’ll visit with Rick (Burkholder) here and just see where we’re at with who will play out of that group. Look forward to the challenge of playing this game, Tennessee has done a nice job, especially with that defensive front that they’ve got, a young quarterback. (Titans Interim Head Coach) Mike’s (McCoy) done a nice job of stepping in and filling in that spot. That’s a tough thing to do, and they’ve done it well along with his coordinators. Special teams, I’m not saying anything about special teams – I should be talking about special teams too they’ve got a great returner and punter that’s been doing (this) a long time and special teams coordinator there with John Fassel. Again, we look forward to the challenge of playing them. With that, times yours.”
Q: What have you seen from Travis Kelce this season?
REID: “I thought he’s (Travis Kelce) had a heck of year. I thought he played well, great leadership obviously. I thought it was a step up even from what he played last year. He made that a point this offseason to really focus in and come in in great shape and it’s helped him throughout the year here. He’s been able to maintain that.”
Q: On Nick Bolton leading the defense.
REID: “It’s helped really throughout the season as we’ve been able to do that – presume that’s what you’re talking about. To make all that happen Matt (Derrick) you have the guys go in the right direction. You have to have a transmitter there. He (Nick Bolton) is that to a T from the front and all the way to the back end and he is a quarterback of the defense. So, that has helped tremendously.”
Q: How has Gardner Minshew responded this week with a few receivers out?
REID: “He (Gardner Minshew) doesn’t let any of that bother him. He just goes out and plays. You guys have had a chance to meet him, you kind of know how he’s wired. He just loves to play the game, you can see that when you’re around him, he’s got a great attitude and he’s a good player. I look forward to seeing what he can do out there.”
Chiefs Player Quotes
December 19, 2025
Q: Has it been a tough season to evaluate with the offense being inconsistent?
KELCE: “I think that’s where it really is. That’s where it’s mostly frustrating is that we’ve seen spurts or parts of the season where we are that team that I think we could make a run at a championship and then times where we don’t even deserve to be in the playoffs.”
Q: Why is it so important to give it your all these last three games?
KELCE: “It’s just integrity, man. It’s integrity. I signed up to be a Kansas City Chief and I love doing what I do and I know I’ve been dreaming of being in these moments and playing for an NFL team since I was a kid and I think getting back to that will give you more motivation than you could ever need to play this game. I think the integrity of being a man about your work and giving everybody your devoted attention and your sense of urgency to be at your best for them. That’s just how you need to go about work, whether or not you’re in the race or not and I think that’s the mentality going into these last three games is we know it kind of ends after that New Years game – or the game right after New Years in January but I’m going to make sure these guys know that I’m giving them everything I got.”
Q: How does your body feel right now?
KELCE: “We’re rolling, man. I’m out here practicing every single day and I’m able to keep doing it. It’s an honor to be out there on that field and feeling the discomfort that I’m feeling right now because there’s a lot of guys and a lot of people that wish they could be out there on that field and get a chance to make those plays and feel the soreness after a game. It’s almost like an honor to feel all that. It’s the end of a football season, everybody’s banged up, but this year is no different than others.”
LB NICK BOLTON
Q: What’s the approach for the final three games?
BOLTON: “We have an opportunity; on defense we have some things that we can still accomplish as a unit. As a team, we’re trying to find ways to win football games and build some confidence going into the next season. We’re just taking it one play at a time, one week at a time. We have a great opportunity in front of us at Tennessee this week, and we’ll take it for that.”
Q: How important is it to be there for the young guys the next few weeks?
BOLTON: “Like I said, we’re trying to build some confidence. We have a lot of young guys in there, especially because some of the injuries and some guys dinged up. Just to instill a little confidence within the guys and give them some positive reinforcement and hopefully some positive plays out there (and) make some plays for us as we continue to keep going in the next couple weeks and then early in the season in training camp. Hopefully we can just let them keep going and build confidence as we keep going.”
Q: What kind of example has Travis Kelce set for the entire team going into these last three games?
BOLTON: “He’s (Travis Kelce) been doing it his whole career, even before I got here. The last couple years I’ve been here, it’s always leading by example. (He’s) the first guy there, last guy to leave. In terms of leader, doing everything the right way, holding everybody to a high standard (and) execution wise, the guy has been doing it for a long time. He might not move as fast as he used to but the details, the execution, the effort (are) all of the things that go into winning close games and doing things the right way, he embodies it. Him being out there, I 100% believe it that no matter where the ball’s at, he’ll be there to give us his best and that’s what we’re going to do for him as well.”