Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has a decision to make regarding his future with the Kansas City Chiefs as he mulls retirement once again. But as he considers his future, he’s facing a bit of a scandal.
Last month, Kelce was announced as the Kansas City Chiefs’ club winner for the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, recognizing his community impact through his Eighty-Seven and Running Foundation. However, that foundation has recently come under some strong scrutiny.
According to federal tax records obtained by the Arizona Republic as part of a recent investigation into the charity, Kelce’s nonprofit told the IRS that it spent just 41 cents of every dollar on charity from 2021 to 2024.
Instead of the money going directly to charity, the Arizona Republic investigation found that Kelce’s Eighty-Seven and Running Foundation has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to A&A Management Group, which is a management company co-founded by Kelce’s longtime business managers, brothers Aaron and André Eanes.
Not only that, but the Arizona Republic found that the company had no official president, secretary, or treasurer and had just two board members, which is below the minimum of three required to ensure good governance.
“It appears to function more as an extension of the management company versus as an independent public charity,” said Laurie Styron, the executive director of CharityWatch, an independent charity watchdog group that reviewed the nonprofit’s tax filings for The Arizona Republic. “That’s not how charities work. It’s wrong.”
Aaron Eanes addressed these issues, claiming that the numbers were a result of incorrect tax filings and said that the charity is working to expand its governance.
Eanes told the Arizona Republic that the operational costs for charitable efforts were “mistakenly reported under management rather than allocated adequately to program services.” As a result, the public records do not provide an accurate “indication of where the resources were truly directed,” Eanes claims.
“We have since corrected this: Management fees decreased significantly in 2024 and dropped to zero in 2025,” Eanes said.
“Looking ahead, we are expanding our board of directors, bringing on advisers with nonprofit expertise, and restructuring our reporting processes to better reflect our actual program work. We are dedicated to ensuring this foundation operates at the highest standards,” he added.
Mistake or not, the current numbers indicate that just 56 cents of every dollar spent has gone to charity since the nonprofit was created.
The Kansas City Chiefs were left stunned on Wednesday after head coach Andy Reid addressed the media with visible concern regarding the unexpected absence of a key offensive player ahead of the Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
What was supposed to be a routine practice quickly turned into another troubling moment for a team already dealing with a difficult stretch to close the season.
Speaking after practice, Reid did not attempt to hide his emotions when asked about the situation.
“It’s tough,” Reid said. “He came out, started the session, and then suddenly he wasn’t able to continue. We didn’t see it coming.”
The veteran head coach admitted the coaching staff was caught off guard by how quickly the situation unfolded.
“You prepare for a normal day, and then something like this happens,” Reid added. “We don’t have all the answers right now, and that’s the hardest part.”
According to multiple reports from the practice facility, the offensive player participated only briefly before leaving the field just minutes after practice began. Medical staff escorted him inside, and he did not return for individual drills or team work.
The abrupt exit immediately raised red flags, especially given the NFL’s strict health and safety protocols. Teammates were seen watching quietly as coaches adjusted the practice schedule on the fly.
The timing of the absence adds to the emotional weight surrounding the Chiefs. With the season no longer offering playoff stakes, Reid acknowledged the difficulty of watching his players deal with setbacks that go beyond wins and losses.
“You hate seeing guys go through this,” Reid said. “These players put everything into preparing, and when something stops that suddenly, it hurts.”
Kansas City now faces added uncertainty as they prepare for the Titans with an offense already missing stability and continuity.
Reid emphasized that the team will not rush any decisions and will prioritize the player’s health above all else.
“Right now, we’re focused on making sure he’s okay,” Reid explained. “Football comes second when it’s something like this.”
With no immediate timeline for a return, the Chiefs are expected to rely more heavily on depth options while monitoring the situation closely.
Later in the press conference, Reid confirmed that the offensive player who left practice abruptly was wide receiver Rashee Rice, who has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol. His availability for Week 16 remains uncertain as evaluations continue.
Rashee Rice’s sudden departure only adds to the challenges facing Kansas City as they attempt to finish the season with professionalism amid mounting adversity.