Chris Jones Responds to Mike Tannenbaum’s Comments on Travis Kelce

Chris Jones seems to have a solid rapport with Mike Tannenbaum, if his latest tweet is any indication. Following Tannenbaum’s suggestion on ESPN that the Chiefs should part ways with star tight end Travis Kelce—who hasn’t confirmed if he’ll play another season—Jones gave a succinct reply: “Shut up…” He quoted Tannenbaum and added a silence face emoji for good measure.

Kelce, who’s approaching his 37th birthday in October, is expected to finalize his decision about his NFL future by March, coinciding with the start of free agency. Despite last season’s struggles, particularly with quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffering a torn ACL and the team finishing at 6-11, the Chiefs are optimistic about Kelce’s potential return. Back in January, team owner Clark Hunt expressed confidence that Kelce would be back on the field.

Amidst this, Kelce is busy preparing for his wedding to Taylor Swift and enjoyed a productive season with 76 receptions, 851 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. Although he is technically slated to be a free agent in 2026, recent changes to Mahomes’ contract suggest the Chiefs are planning some strategic moves.

On a related note, reports indicate that Mahomes’ salary cap hit will drop significantly—from $78.2 million to $34.65 million—creating more than $43 million in cap space, which could allow for future acquisitions.

In his recent comments, Tannenbaum, a former Jets executive, emphasized that if the Chiefs are looking to renew their roster, they should direct their focus elsewhere. “I’m moving on from Travis Kelce,” he stated on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” urging Kansas City to make what he sees as a tough yet right decision.

Looking ahead, Jones has a hefty cap hit of $44.85 million. It’ll be intriguing to see how the Chiefs navigate their options. As for Jones, he’s entering his 11th season, and he just wrapped up a year with seven sacks, although his Pro Football Focus grade of 70.6 marked the lowest of his career.

Jones’s pointed remark towards Tannenbaum follows closely on the heels of his recent effort to recruit former teammate Tyreek Hill. Hill, who won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2020 before being traded to Miami, is set to be released after a season hampered by injuries.