Hall of Famer Cris Carter has suggested that the upcoming NFL season could be Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce's "last dance" before heading to Canton for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Carter shared a photo on Instagram with Kelce and Kelce's longtime strength and conditioning coach, Andrew Spruill, with text overlaying the image stating, "Know the goat is preparing for THE LAST DANCE. Next stop Canton/HOF."
Carter, who now works as Florida Atlantic football’s director of player development, noted that he and Spruill began working with Kelce before his rookie NFL season. The post has generated discussion on social media, with some fans questioning Carter's timing and Kelce's right to announce his own retirement.
Kelce confirmed in March that he would return for his 14th NFL season, quieting speculation about his retirement. He enters the 2026 campaign with over 13,000 career regular-season receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. Carter's comment comes after a summer where Kelce also celebrated his wedding to singer Taylor Swift.
Last season, the Chiefs' streak of consecutive playoff appearances ended. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes sustained a season-ending ACL injury late in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mahomes has been participating in seven-on-seven drills since May as he recovers from surgery and has stated his goal of being ready for the Chiefs' regular-season opener.