Travis Kelce, the 36-year-old who has become a symbol of Kansas City Chiefs football, talked about how he feels about the possibility of retiring after the Chiefs lost to the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day. The loss finally knocked the Chiefs out of the playoff race, and Kelce may have never played at Arrowhead Stadium again in his long career.
During an interview with the Associated Press after the game Kelce said, “You’ve got everything in the world watching you. You get to go out there with the young guys on primetime television. Young guys getting an opportunity to taste what this NFL life is life.”
There were times when the media asked Kelce if this was the end of an era. He stayed calm.
His words, “I’ll let that be a decision that I’ll make with my family, friends, and the Chiefs organization when the time comes,” left the door open while recognizing how serious the situation is.
The good news is that Kelce has some experienced advisors on his side who know how hard it is to know when to quit. In a Prime Video conversation before the Chiefs-Broncos game, he talked about who he’ll be talking to help him figure out what to do.
Travis was talking about his brother Jason Kelce, who quit the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2023 season. “”Well, obviously, I’ve got one guy in my back pocket that called it quits when he was 36 years old,” Travis said during a Prime Video Interview. He went ahead to talk about Tony Gonzalez, “I got another guy in my pocket that quit when he was 37 years old, and that guy is you.”
On December 15, Jason Kelce, who is now a reporter for ESPN, gave his younger brother some advice that he had learned the hard way. The center who used to be an All-Pro, stressed that this is not a choice that should be made quickly.
“In my opinion, to nail that decision, you’ve got to step away from the game for a little bit,” Jason said on ESPN Monday Night Football.
Talking from his own experience Kelce said, “This game makes you feel so many things right after a season. Take a break and think about it. It will then come to you.”
His advice shows how important it is to get a bigger picture before making a choice that will change your life so drastically.
Travis really does feel conflicted inside. Part of him knows that the inevitable end is coming, but another part is still on fire with competition.
“When it’s over, it’s over,” Travis shared. “And I feel like I don’t know, like I still have a lot of love for this game. I feel like if I came back, it would be to answer that flame in my heart that I still love this thing.”
It’s clear that he loves the sport, and he also knows that the choice will have long-lasting effects. There’s no going back once he hangs up his cleats, which makes the decision even more important for someone who has spent his whole life playing football.
The Chiefs have one more regular-season game left, on January 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Kelce is focused on ending strong, no matter what the future holds.
“I’m just trying to finish out and give Chiefs Kingdom everything I’ve got,” he said, showing the unwavering dedication to his team and fans that has been the driving force behind his career.
As the offseason comes, Kelce will have time to figure out what he needs to do about that blank spot in his future. Travis Kelce has made magic on the field that will last long after he is done playing.
In the next few months, we’ll find out if the tight end who helped Kansas City win multiple titles will play one more season or if Christmas Day 2024 really was the end of a legendary career at Arrowhead Stadium.
