The idea of Travis Kelce retiring from the NFL may be unthinkable for Kansas City Chiefs fans.
But in fact, the man is 34; he plays a physically demanding position, and – oh, and as you may have heard, he got a lot on the plate today.
Yes, Travis is dating Taylor Swift, and their relationship is getting more attention than their tight performance on the field.
Fans have slammed Taylor as a distraction for the team, which is clearly absurd.
But the argument can made that Travis is nearing the end of his time in the field.
Can Travis retire? Is he ready to settle life after football?
There are many signs that indicate yes.
Travis Kelce’s Performance On The Field Has Been … Uneven
Now, for those Swifties who don’t care about football, you might want to move on. For the rest of you, there are a few things to consider about Travis’ performance last season.
Only, KC went to the Super Bowl and walked away winning and yes, Travis played his heart out.
But there were still some fumbles. (Remember him fighting on the field with his coach?)
Additionally, for the first time in seven seasons, Kelce will not reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark in 2023.
He also had the lowest yards-per-reception average of his career, and he scored less than half as many touchdowns as the previous season.
All of that didn’t amount to much when it came time to return the contract (more on that later.)
But aside from his performance on the field, it feels like his focus is being pulled in different directions this way.
And you can’t blame it all on Taylor!
Travis’ Big Dreams Beyond the Field Begin to Come True
In March 2023, Travis hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, delighting fans who followed the football player’s career and enjoyed his energy.
“The SNL stuff opened up a new joy and a new career path for me,” he said in an interview moments later.
“I’m lucky to be able to do some things outside of the sports world that I love to do, like shooting a camera.”
This happened in January 2024 – and a lot has happened since then!
First, he was named host of the new game show So You Think You’re Smarter Than A Celebrity? Then, he landed a role among the all-star cast of Ryan Murphy’s new horror series, Grotesque.
And now, there are strong rumors that he will appear in the Happy Gilmore sequel – a rumor started by star Adam Sandler himself!
So, the long and the short of it, Travis has been involved in a career outside of football. Heck, even if he just stuck with his podcast with his brother Jason Kelce, that would be enough.
The kids are raking! And speaking of money…
Travis Kelce’s New Contract
In April, two months after winning the Super Bowl, the Chiefs gave superstar tight end Travis Kelce a significant raise with a new two-year contract.
A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the deal is worth “$34.25 million with $17 million fully guaranteed for this season and most of the rest going into the third day of the 2025 league year.”
That’s some serious cheddar – and a serious commitment to sticking with the team!
“The thing to put into words is what Travis means to this organization, this city, and it’s always a priority to set a contract for us and it’s important for Clark (Hunt). So it’s very fitting that Travis (becomes) now the highest paid in two years this,” general manager Brett Veach said in a statement at the time.
At video sent to X by the Chiefs, Travis added that it was “an honor and a pleasure and I can’t wait for the next two years … Chiefs forever.”
But we all know, eternal does not mean forever. Just ask Tom Brady.
So, what are Travis’ plans for retirement? Let Travis speak for himself.
Is Travis Kelce Retired? The answer is…
Back in January, Travis met the media in a press conference after a particularly rough game. Reporters were quick to ask if this would be his last season in the NFL.
“I have no reason to stop playing football,” Kelce said, not knowing if he was right. He added.
“I like it. We’re still successful, going in with the right mindset. I just love the challenge it gives me every day to be the best I can be.”
A month later, during an appearance on the “Rich Eisen Show”, Travis doubled down
“It’s not on my mind,” he said when asked about rumors of retirement.
“I think the excitement of this year’s challenge, maybe doing it for the third time in a row – I just need it. It’s a quick thought, so there’s no chance in hell that I don’t come back this year.”
Travis also revealed that he followed the advice of former NFL star Julian Edelman.
The Super Bowl-winning star said: “He mentioned, you know, he has to hang around when he can’t go out and practice, he can’t go out and work hard to feel responsible. for the guy next to him, and that’s when he started asking.
“I’m just having so much fun, you know, I’m so grateful and so lucky that I can go into year 12 and still have this energy and love and the ability to go out and work.”
And someone has it! As long as he can play physically, he will be out on the field! That’s just what Hall of Famers do!
