I’m the new Virginia governor and affordability is what everyone needs
This November, Virginians elected me to be their 75th governor with the largest margin of victory for a Democrat in modern history, in part because I’ve been focused above all on one big issue: affordability.
Across Virginia, I heard from families in every community in every part of our commonwealth about the impact of high costs. I met seniors struggling to afford prescription drugs, parents worried about rising energy bills and graduates just breaking into the workforce who couldn’t find housing that they could afford.
But I also heard a loud refrain from one other group: business leaders. No matter where I traveled, I met executives and entrepreneurs who were struggling to find the right candidates to fill job openings and increasingly worried that Virginia’s best employees and talent were being priced out of the commonwealth.
The numbers reflect those worries. More than 70% of Virginians believe there isn’t enough housing available that they can afford to rent or buy, according to recent polling. And nationwide, nearly half of Americans say that everyday costs are difficult to afford.
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Financial pressures don’t just strain household budgets; they shape where people can build their lives. The U.S. Census Bureau found that almost half of college students in Virginia leave within five years of graduation — a rate that’s above the national average. When people want to work here, they should be able to work, afford a home and ultimately afford to create a life here. They shouldn’t be forced to move across the country or wait on the sidelines because of the cost of their healthcare or housing.
High costs aren’t just a quality-of-life concern, but a matter of economic competitiveness. If we fail to act, we risk slower economic growth, lower tax revenue, and declining productivity — consequences that would disadvantage Virginia for decades to come.
That’s why I’ve said my incoming administration will be relentlessly focused on making Virginia more affordable — so we can attract and retain the best workers, companies and business leaders. As governor, I will make sure that Virginians have every reason to stay here and build their futures. At the same time, I will make it clear to workers and companies across the country why we are the best place to start a career or expand a business.
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Addressing the affordability crisis starts with ensuring Virginians know they can find a home or apartment that meets their needs and budget. My administration will work to eliminate outdated policies that make it harder to build, follow the success of other states by creating a revolving loan fund to encourage mixed-income development and give localities the power to protect affordable housing in their communities.
A thriving workforce also needs access to affordable and accessible healthcare. The threats to the Affordable Care Act, massive federal cuts to the healthcare safety net and fewer healthcare providers — particularly in rural Virginia — are putting Virginians’ health and safety at risk.
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These are tough challenges, but my administration is ready to find feasible solutions to protect Virginians’ access to affordable coverage — whether that is through the ACA Marketplace or Medicaid. We will also focus on lowering costs for patients at the pharmacy counter, in part by cracking down on predatory practices by pharmacy benefit managers that drive up the cost of prescription drugs.
Finally, both consumers and businesses deserve the certainty that comes with a predictable energy bill. Here in Virginia, we will prioritize increasing energy generation to meet rising demand, including by supporting our nation-leading offshore wind industry and making it easier to install solar in commonsense locations, such as rooftops and parking lots. We will also build on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s work to encourage companies to develop the next generation of energy technology, like the world’s first commercial fusion power plant being built right here in Virginia.
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High costs aren’t just a quality-of-life concern, but a matter of economic competitiveness.
By lowering the cost of living, we can give Virginians the confidence to bet on themselves and take the kind of risks that power our economy — whether that means developing new skills to match job opportunities in their area, pursuing an advanced degree to increase future earnings, or starting a business to give their families long-term financial freedom. As the next governor of Virginia, I’m ready to work with anyone, including President Donald Trump, to make life less expensive. Because high costs and the inability to retain and attract top talent to Virginia affect everyone — no matter your party affiliation, and no matter if your company has five employees or 5,000.
Virginia is competing against 49 states and the District of Columbia for both the best talent in America and the businesses that inevitably follow that talent. As governor, I intend for Virginia to dominate.
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Grandfather dies in ‘freak accident’ at McDonald’s drive-thru window before Christmas
A grandfather was killed just days before Christmas in what officials have described as a “freak accident” at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Nebraska.
Michael Dickinson, 69, was crushed to death after he was pinned between his vehicle and the payment window on Tuesday morning in Grand Island.
He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to Grand Island police.
Police said the victim’s next of kin were notified of his death.
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Police Division Chief Dean Elliott told KSNB-TV that the incident was “100% a freak accident.”
“It appears the deceased opened the door to further reach out of the window for payment purposes,” he said.
“We’re not sure if the vehicle lurched forward or what happened, but he became pinned between the door frame and the drive-thru window counter,” Elliott added.
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A McDonald’s employee attempted to save the man by vaulting through the passenger side of the car, but was unsuccessful in the effort to free Dickinson, Elliott told KSNB. The employee was also injured in the rescue attempt.
The incident remains under investigation.
Dickinson’s right leg was amputated in 2021, his daughter wrote on Facebook, adding that he was fitted with a prosthetic a few months later and re-learned how to walk. She did not say why his leg was removed.
His family remembered “his love” on their first Christmas without him, recounting his willingness “to help and be there when it mattered most.”
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“A skilled and hardworking mechanic, Michael took pride in his work and had a gift for fixing what was broken. It reflected who he was – reliable, practical, and dedicated,” his family wrote.
“Though his life was cut short, Michael’s love, loyalty, and kindness will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. He will be dearly missed and always remembered,” the post added.
Putin’s war effort falters as Wagner fighters reportedly lay down arms
Russian forces appear close to being pushed out of the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kupyansk, with only a small number of isolated troops remaining and even pro-Kremlin voices acknowledging the setback, according to a report.
The Kyiv Post reported Thursday that Ukrainian military officials say Russian units left inside the city are cut off from reliable supply lines and are increasingly surrendering as their position deteriorates.
Viktor Trehubov, head of communications for Ukraine’s Joint Forces grouping, said Russian forces inside Kupyansk now number only several dozen and include foreign mercenaries fighting alongside Moscow’s troops.
“They are surrendering,” Trehubov said during a televised briefing carried by Ukrainian state media. “There have even been cases of foreigners — foreign mercenaries for the Russians — giving themselves up.”
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According to Ukrainian officials, the remaining Russian units are surviving largely on limited air resupply, a tactic that cannot sustain long-term operations inside the city.
“Supply by air bridge alone is not something that allows them to hold out for long,” Trehubov said.
While Russian forces continue to launch multiple assaults along the Kupyansk axis each day, Ukrainian officials say those attacks lack the manpower and reserves needed to change the balance on the ground.
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“At this stage, they simply do not have additional capabilities to somehow restore the situation,” Trehubov said.
The Kyiv Post also reported that Russian military bloggers and war correspondents have begun openly conceding that Kupyansk is no longer under Russian control, marking a notable shift in Kremlin-aligned messaging.
“An entire wave of messages appeared saying that Kupyansk is gone,” Trehubov said. “Even Russian propagandists have switched to a line acknowledging that the city is no longer under their control.”
Ukrainian officials stressed that Russia never fully reestablished control over Kupyansk after its liberation in September 2022, aside from a brief occupation during the early phase of the invasion.
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“In reality, it was never fully taken by them in order to be ‘lost,’ aside from a short period in 2022,” Trehubov said.
Efforts by Russian units to dig in within the city’s northern districts have failed, leaving those forces unable to withdraw or receive reinforcements, Ukrainian officials said.
“They themselves now admit that the defense of the city by the same units that entered and tried to secure positions in the northern districts has failed,” Trehubov said.
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Combat continues outside the city, particularly from positions across the Oskil River, though Ukrainian forces maintain control of Kupyansk itself.
Ukraine’s General Staff said Russian troops carried out five attacks in the Kupyansk sector Dec. 24, all of which were repelled near Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Zahryzove and Kupyansk.
Trehubov said a recent Ukrainian counteroffensive further disrupted Russian efforts to stabilize the front.
“The counteroffensive came as a surprise for the enemy,” he said. “Right now, they simply lack the resources to regain control.”
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Kupyansk, a key rail and road hub in the Kharkiv region with a prewar population of about 27,000, has long been a focal point of Russian territorial claims.
The city was briefly occupied during the opening months of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 before being liberated by Ukrainian forces later that year, a history Ukrainian officials say Moscow has repeatedly tried to obscure through disinformation.
Grand jury declines to indict dad charged in deadly Kentucky State University shooting
A grand jury declined to indict the father of two Kentucky State University students who was charged with murder after an on-campus shooting left one student dead and another critically injured.
Defense attorney Scott Danks announced on Facebook that a grand jury decided not to indict his client, Jacob Lee Bard, for the Dec. 9 shooting and that he is out of jail. Bard’s attorneys have long maintained that he was justified in shooting the two people who were beating his son, as 20-30 people gathered to attack the family.
“GRAND JURY FINDS JACOB ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE AND REFUSES TO INDICT,” Danks wrote. “He’s out of jail and the case is over!”
KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SHOOTING SUSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDER IS PARENT OF A STUDENT
Court records reviewed by WDKY-TV show that Bard’s $100,000 bail was posted at approximately 9:20 a.m. on Dec. 23. The outlet added that the case against Bard is now closed and that his bond would be refunded.
Bard’s family, accompanied by two armed campus police officers, was moving his younger son out when the incident occurred, according to his attorneys. They also noted that the family decided to withdraw their two sons from the school after “multiple armed, violent” incidents against them and other students in the days leading up to Dec. 9.
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When the family and an officer reached the dormitory entrance, a group of people in masks and hoods proceeded to rush out and begin violently attacking the family and others, attorneys said. During the attack, the assailants beat the son’s head against the pavement.
Violent threats against one of Bard’s sons allegedly began after he reported a burglary in his dorm room to campus police. Attorneys say that he is in an undisclosed location due to continued death threats.
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Kentucky State University told The Associated Press that the grand jury decision “does not lessen the pain our community continues to feel, nor does it change our priorities.”
“Our commitment remains centered on supporting our students and ensuring Kentucky State University is a safe place to learn, live, and work,” the university added.
Armed suspect freed from jail allegedly commits third shooting in crime spree
A Texas repeat offender is back behind bars following his alleged involvement in three separate shootings spanning the course of just one month.
Abraham Herrera, 21, is facing several charges stemming from his alleged role in two drive-by shootings and a standoff with SWAT in Hays County – located roughly 15 miles from Austin – last month, according to FOX 7.
The first shooting reportedly unfolded on Nov. 3, after authorities were called to the scene after receiving reports of shots fired in the 500 block of Santa Fe Run in Kyle.
Hays County deputies found a homeowner who had been seriously injured after multiple rounds were fired into the home, FOX 7 reported. The shooting was determined to be a random act of violence, with authorities finding no clear motive.
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While no arrests were initially made, authorities reportedly released a photo of an SUV believed to be involved in the alleged incident.
Just nine days later, on Nov. 12, Hays County SWAT was called to the scene of a barricade incident in Buda after deputies responded to reports of shots being fired in the area, FOX 7 reported.
While officers initially confronted Herrera, he allegedly fled into a nearby wooded area and refused to surrender.
Following a standoff with SWAT, Herrera was reportedly taken into custody and authorities recovered an AR-15-style firearm and ammunition at the scene.
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Herrera was subsequently charged with evading arrest or detention, unlawful carrying of weapons, disorderly conduct, and tampering or fabricating with evidence, according to the outlet.
Despite the charges, court records obtained by FOX 7 indicate Herrera was released from jail just two days after his standoff with SWAT.
On Dec. 1, investigators were reportedly made aware of a second drive-by shooting in Martindale that occurred the weekend of Thanksgiving, with evidence allegedly pointing to Herrera.
On Dec. 19, Herrera was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant issued by the Texas Rangers, FOX 7 reported.
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Three days later, investigators reportedly linked shell casings found at the scene of the November shooting in Kyle to the firearm seized from Herrera during his standoff with SWAT.
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He is now facing additional charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from the first drive-by shooting, along with disorderly conduct with a firearm, tampering with physical evidence, and evading arrest, with his total combined bond amount set at $409,500, FOX 7 reported.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office and Hays County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Virginia prosecutor accused of giving special treatment to illegal immigrants
EXCLUSIVE: A pro-police group will request the Justice Department investigate a Virginia prosecutor accused of being unfairly lenient to illegal immigrant suspects, using an oversight law the Biden administration used to scrutinize police departments like one in Kentucky after the Breonna Taylor incident.
The law enforcement “pattern-or-practice” provision, under 34 USC 12601, was previously used to investigate alleged civil rights violations during the Biden era by police departments — including in Louisville after a no-knock warrant was served, leading to a shootout that killed Taylor.
It has also been used against departments in New Jersey, Mississippi and Tennessee, as well as a division of the NYPD, for allegations ranging from excessive use of force, to gender bias and allegedly unlawful traffic stops.
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On Wednesday, the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF) told Fox News Digital it would ask the Trump Justice Department to use the same law in a different respect to investigate progressive Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano in Virginia.
Descano, who received at least $600,000 from a George Soros-funded political action committee during his first election bid in Virginia’s largest jurisdiction in 2019, came under fire recently for the nonprosecution of an illegal immigrant who allegedly murdered someone the day after he was released.
LELDF’s request “seeks to use established federal civil-rights tools to test whether a prosecutor’s office is operating a discriminatory system that endangers the public and erodes equal justice under law,” the group’s president, Jason C. Johnson told Fox News Digital. LELDF officials will formally ask Deputy Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon to investigate Descano’s office under the same “pattern-or-practice” concerns as Biden’s DOJ had in Louisville.
The group alleged the Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office “violat[ed] the civil rights of US citizens by favoring illegal aliens and non-citizens in charging, plea bargaining, and sentencing decisions.”
They cited Descano’s “official policy” to consider “immigration consequences” when prosecuting cases.
“As a federal prosecutor, Steve protected immigrants from criminals who targeted them due to their immigration status… Steve knows that regardless of immigration status, all our neighbors deserve equal protection of, and equal access to, the law,” a passage on Descano’s campaign page reads.
“The fear of law enforcement that Donald Trump has fostered in immigrant communities does nothing but lead to increased crime,” Descano claimed in backing up his policy.
“In addition to providing a safe place, Steve’s office will take immigration consequences into account when making charging and plea decisions. Although prosecutors typically refer to immigration consequences as ‘collateral consequences,’ avoiding the unnecessary destruction of families and communities will be a top priority for Steve as Commonwealth’s Attorney. Wherever possible, Steve will make charging and plea decisions that limit or avoid immigration consequences.”
That type of prosecutorial discretion runs afoul of the law, LELDF claimed in their letter to Dhillon.
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They pointed to the case of Marvin Morales-Ortez, who reportedly had first-degree murder charges stemming from a 2019 incident dropped by Descano’s office — which in turn told Washington’s ABC affiliate their evidence showed it was “clear that he was ultimately not the perpetrator who had killed Mr. [Jose] Guillen Mejia.”
Nick Minock, a reporter for the outlet, later obtained a transcript of Morales-Ortez’ preliminary hearing where Descano’s office posited that Morales-Ortez was present when Guillen Mejia was murdered and had ambushed the man on a walking path.
A short time after he was released, Morales-Ortez allegedly went to a home on Fan Shell Court in Reston, Va. — near John F. Dulles International Airport — and allegedly shot a man inside.
That chain of events enraged the Trump administration, with Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin saying that “Fairfax County politicians [who] push[ed] pushing policies that released this illegal alien from jail” have “blood on their hands.”
In the letter, LELDF argued that “dozens of illegal aliens like Morales-Ortez have repeatedly received excessive leniency from [Fairfax] under Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano.”
They pointed directly to a passage in a 2020 memo from Descano laying out similar to his campaign page that “[Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys] shall consider immigration consequences where possible and where doing so accords with justice.”
LELDF claimed the memo and the policy it forwards directly violates the Constitution and denies U.S. citizens equal protection under the law versus illegal immigrants.
“It is both immoral and unlawful for a government agency to engage in systemic discrimination against U.S. citizens to the benefit of those illegally present,” the group told Dhillon.
The memo represents the necessary predicate for a federal investigation, they argued, while also taking issue with Fairfax’s “explicit policy directing prosecutors to weigh immigration consequences, including deportation’s ‘detrimental impact’ on families and communities, while ensuring no better outcomes than for non-immigrants.”
In a fuller excerpt from the memo, Descano says that when the seriousness of an offense and its harm is significant, the weight of “potential adverse immigration consequences” should be “minimal,” while the opposite is true for “less serious” offenses and those with “no identifiable victim.”
In those cases, subordinate prosecutors should “have greater latitude in negotiating a resolution that takes adverse immigration consequences into account.”
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While his office did not respond to a request for comment, Descano has also bristled at the notion of being tied to Soros — recently hitting back at a top Youngkin administration official who blamed prosecutors linked to the Hungarian-American financier for the crime crisis.
“I’m not a ‘Soros funded prosecutor’, I’m the CA for Fairfax County – where the murder rate is 75% lower than the entire Commonwealth’s. Maybe [she] should look at the numbers (especially since she works in public safety) before making such a ridiculous claim,” Descano tweeted in 2022.
Trump announces US attack on ISIS in Nigeria, calls strikes ‘powerful and deadly’
President Donald Trump said the U.S. launched airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night targeting ISIS militants he accused of killing Christians, calling the operation decisive and warning further attacks would follow if the violence continues.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump said Thursday on Truth Social.
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper,” he continued. “May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”
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U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the attacks in a post on X on Thursday night.
“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Dec. 25, 2025, in Sokoto State,” the post read.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz also weighed in after learning about the strikes on ISIS forces in Nigeria.
“Merry Christmas to the Christians in Nigeria and around the world who know tonight that the President of the United States will fight for them,” he said in a post on X.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Thursday, “I commend President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and our brave troops for these strikes against bloodthirsty ISIS savages who are not only persecuting Christians, but also have killed many Americans.”
Last month, Trump threatened to “do things in Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about” and “go into that now disgraced country guns-a-blazing.”
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That warning set the stage for the Christmas-night strikes, which Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said fulfilled the president’s demand that the killings stop.
“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on X. “The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…
“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” he added. “Merry Christmas!”
Then, nearly a month later, the Trump administration rolled out a new visa-restriction policy in response to a wave of brutal anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria, targeting those accused of orchestrating religious violence against Christians in the West African nation and around the world.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the policy in the Immigration and Nationality Act will allow the State Department to deny visas to those “who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom.”
Immediate family members may also face visa restrictions in some cases.
“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” Rubio said in the statement.
The move followed a surge of attacks on Christians and Christian institutions in Nigeria. Last month, gunmen stormed the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, killing two people and kidnapping dozens. The 38 abducted worshipers were freed nearly a week later.
Days later, armed attackers raided St. Mary’s School in Niger State, abducting more than 300 students and staff. School officials said 50 students aged 10 to 18 escaped in the following days, but 253 students and 12 teachers remain captive.
The violence prompted Trump to designate Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” though the Nigerian government disputes the U.S. assessment.
“I’m really angry about it,” the president told Fox News Radio last month. “What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace.”
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Echoing Trump’s warning, Rubio said earlier this month, “As President Trump made clear, the ‘United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries.’”
Veteran head coach emerges as leading candidate for Michigan amid Sherrone Moore scandal
As the University of Michigan continues to deal with the fallout of the Sherrone Moore firing, his replacement may have come into focus.
Kyle Whittingham, who announced he would step down as Utah’s head coach after 21 seasons following their bowl game on Dec. 31, has become “the focus of Michigan’s coaching search,” according to ESPN.
It is expected that Whittingham’s candidacy will be shared with Michigan officials on Friday, and they could be offering him a deal shortly after that.
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After leading Utah to a 10-2 record, Whittingham notched a career 177-88 record over his two decades worth of coaching the Utes. He even had a perfect 13-0 season in 2008, and many expect him to one day be in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
But when he announced he would be stepping down, he joked during his statement that he was entering “the transfer portal” instead of simply retiring from the sport.
The 66-year-old still wants to coach, and he’s one of the hottest in that market.
FIRED MICHIGAN COACH SHERRONE MOORE WAS ‘STRESSED OUT’ AS RUMORS SWIRLED ABOUT AFFAIR: ‘IT WAS TOO OBVIOUS’
Moore was fired after Michigan found he was having an inappropriate relationship, and he was jailed soon after for allegedly breaking into the staffer’s house and threatening to take his own life.
Prosecutors accused Moore of contacting the staffer via phone calls and texts after the breakup, prompting the woman to contact the University of Michigan and cooperate in its investigation. Moore was subsequently fired from his position as head football coach, which prosecutors said prompted him to show up at her home.
Moore then allegedly “barged” his way into the residence, grabbed a butter knife and a pair of kitchen scissors and began threatening his own life. According to prosecutors, Moore allegedly told the staffer, “My blood is on your hands” and “You ruined my life.”
If convicted, Moore faces more than half a decade behind bars, which would further damage any hopes he may have of getting back on the sidelines. His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 22.
A not guilty plea was entered for Moore during his first court appearance earlier this month.
Moore was “stressed out” during the 2025 season, according to The Detroit Free Press, with reported rumors he had been in an extramarital affair with a staffer.
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“Guys over there on that side of the building 100% knew about it,” a former Michigan insider told the outlet. “They can deny it all they want, but there’s too many things that happened. If you didn’t know, you’re an idiot. It was too obvious.”
Moore’s attorney, Ellen K. Michaels, told Fox News Digital she had no comment regarding the article.
Emotional Travis Kelce addresses retirement after potential final home Chiefs game
Kansas City Chiefs fans are usually amped for a playoff run as the regular season comes to a close, but Christmas night at Arrowhead Stadium didn’t have those implications as they won’t be making the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Yet, it was an emotional night as a cornerstone of the franchise perhaps played his final home game.
Tight end Travis Kelce walked off the grass on GEHA Field following the 20-13 loss with one of those familiar, take-it-all-in moments that veterans who might be calling it quits on their storied career do. He high-fived fans as he walked to the tunnel and likely heard a bunch of kudos, appreciation and pure admiration despite the result of the game.
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Kelce, who finished with five catches for 36 yards as third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun played due to multiple knee injuries for Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew, is expected to announce his intentions, if any, to play in 2026.
Retirement has always been in the cards, and he’s admitted that he would let the Chiefs know his intentions before the new league year begins in March.
“A whole lot of emotions,” Kelce said at the podium during a post-game press conference, per ESPN. “You’ve got everybody in the world watching you. You get to go out there with the young guys on prime-time television. Young guys getting an opportunity to taste what this NFL life is like.”
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Of course, reporters had to follow up on what Kelce might do with his career.
“I’ll let that be a decision I’ll make with my family, friends, the Chiefs organization when the time comes,” he replied.
Kelce was introduced before the game along with the rest of his offensive teammates, and the Arrowhead Stadium crowd erupted, understanding the circumstances of what they were potentially witnessing.
It’s those moments since the very beginning of his career, which now has three Super Bowl rings on the shelf along with a likely trip to Canton, Ohio, in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, that Kelce never takes for granted.
“You only get a few of those where you get to stand there and appreciate [60,000], 70,000 Chiefs fans cheering for you,” he explained. “I always embrace that moment.
“You feel the generations of happiness and the love that [the fans] have. It’s a beautiful thing, man.”
Kelce’s fiancee, music megastar Taylor Swift, was present to watch her future husband in his element in Kansas City for what could be the final time.
Before their relationship took the world by storm, Kelce’s stardom quickly rose on that field, catching 645 passes during Chiefs home games, including many playoff bouts on their way to Vince Lombardi trophies.
The Chiefs will end the 2025 season, a disappointing one by their standards, on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders, where there is a question whether Kelce will even play. He does need just 10 yards to hit 13,000 for his career.
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If he doesn’t play, Kelce would finish with 839 yards and five touchdowns on 73 catches in 16 games. And then fans will start to look at what his final career stats could potentially be, including the second-most receiving yards by a tight end in league history at 12,990.
But it’s currently all just potential. Kelce knows a decision must be made, but it will be on his time as he sits through the pros and cons of playing in what would be his 14th NFL season.