Patrick Mahomes to play in Pro Bowl, Travis Kelce will not

No Kansas City Chiefs fan wanted to hear these words this week: “Patrick Mahomes will attend the Pro Bowl in Orlando.”

But with the Chiefs having been eliminated by the New England Patriots in the AFC title game on Sunday night, that will be the case.

Mahomes plans to attend the game, and as I suspected back in December, the league will showcase the 23-year-old Chiefs quarterback as the face and draw of the game.

Joining Mahomes on the offensive side of the football will be wide receiver Tyreek Hill, fullback Anthony Sherman and left tackle Eric Fisher.

Tight end Travis Kelce, a former Pro Bowl MVP, has declined to attend and will be replaced by Oakland Raiders TE Jared Cook.

The Chiefs will be represented on the defensive side of the football by outside linebacker Dee Ford.

“I’m going to enjoy the Pro Bowl with my family and the other great players of our league,” Ford said in the Chiefs’ locker room Monday.

In addition to the game, Pro Bowl week features a “Skills Showdown,” which airs this Thursday, January 24, at 8 p.m. Arrowhead Time on ESPN.

The Pro Bowl game takes place on Sunday, January 27, at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, kicking off at 2 p.m. Arrowhead Time on ESPN and ABC.