Patrick Mahomes is bracing himself for a painful reality — that his legendary partnership with Travis Kelce may be nearing its final chapter.

After the Kansas City Chiefs’ crushing 20–10 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday night, the normally unshakeable quarterback spoke with rare vulnerability about what this season could mean for him and Kelce. With the Chiefs now sitting at 6–7 and their playoff chances slipping to as low as 12–15%, Mahomes admitted he’s soaking in every remaining snap with his longtime teammate.

“Every season I’ve had with him, I try to cherish,” Mahomes said quietly. “You never know if this could be his last.”

Kelce, now 36, has battled rising retirement speculation all year — and despite getting into peak shape and continuing to perform at a high level, the road ahead looks uncertain. Mahomes made it clear that whatever happens next, Kelce’s commitment has never wavered.

“He’s played great football. And I know one thing — he’s going to give everything he has for the rest of this season to give us a chance. Even though the odds are getting lower and lower.”

To sneak into the postseason, Kansas City now likely needs to win every remaining game — and pray for multiple losses from teams like the Chargers and Colts. The margin for error is gone.

“You don’t get these moments back,” Mahomes admitted. “We had chances. We just didn’t execute when it mattered most.”

Still, belief hasn’t completely disappeared inside the locker room. Defensive star Chris Jones echoed the quiet hope still flickering within the team.

“The door is still open,” Jones said. “It’s slim — but it’s still open.”

Since 2017, Mahomes and Kelce have built one of the most dominant partnerships in NFL history — three Super Bowl titles, five Super Bowl appearances, and a dynasty that reshaped the league. Now, with the season slipping toward the edge, each game feels heavier than ever… possibly the last chapter of an era.

And Mahomes knows it.

That’s why he’s holding on to every moment.