Chiefs’ Travis Kelce doesn’t plan to retire from NFL ‘any time soon’
At least one Kelce brother plans to suit up on the gridiron next season.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, 34, spoke to reporters on Thursday ahead of the team’s playoff game against the Dolphins on Saturday, and he was asked about the possibility of retirement.
“Do you guys think about retiring? Am I the only one in this boat?” Kelce laughed.
“Whoever’s not thinking about stuff down the road, I blame you. I just have no reason to stop playing football. I love it. We still have success. Come in with the right mindset, and I just love the challenge it gives me every single day to try to be at my best.”
Even as Kelce has had a down season by his own lofty standards, beset by drops at inopportune times, he had 93 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns this season — and those numbers were accumulated before he sat out in Week 18.
VIDEO: Travis Kelce and Andy Reid on potential retirement:
"I have no reason to stop playing football. I love it… I have no desire to stop anytime soon." – Kelce
"I'm old. But not that old." – Reid #ChiefsKingdom@KCTV5pic.twitter.com/ySQjgCu4TJ— Jared Koller (@JaredKCTV5) January 11, 2024
Some voices, including FS1 host Skip Bayless, have felt that Kelce has been distracted this season while he’s been dating world-famous singer Taylor Swift.
His high-profile relationship has even included him traveling to Buenos Aires to see the international version of her Eras Tour when the Chiefs had a bye week.
Travis Kelce told reporters on Thursday that he has no plans to retire from the NFL.Getty Images
Swift has attended a number of Chiefs games since her relationship with Kelce became public.
Nevertheless, Kelce emphasized his love for football in the Chiefs’ press conference Thursday.
“Like I said I have no desire to stop any time soon,” Kelce said.
On the other hand, Kelce’s brother, Jason, the 35-year-old center for the Eagles, opened up earlier this season about how the conclusion of his career could be coming soon.
“We took on a lot last year, and it ended up working out really, really well for Travis and I at the end of the season, although we [the Eagles] did come up one game short,” Jason Kelce reflected upon losing the Super Bowl to his brother’s Chiefs team.
Travis Kelce fell just short of 1,000 receiving yards this season.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
“I think it is a lot, and I think the way we’ve justified it as a family is this [playing football] is going to be over pretty soon here. If it’s this year, which it very well could be, we want to make sure that we’re ready to go when football’s done.
“All of these different opportunities to figure out what we want to do in retirement. On top of that, just enjoy the last time you have left with the guys you have.”
