Following the Kansas City Chiefs‘ Super Bowl 59 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, questions have arisen about the future of veteran tight end Travis Kelce.
At 35 years old and with three Super Bowl rings, Kelce has little left to prove in his NFL career. However, reports indicate that he is more likely to return for another season rather than step away from the game.
Kelce’s Uncertain Future
Kelce has been a key figure in the Chiefs‘ offense for over a decade, but his long-term future in the NFL has become a topic of discussion.
Given his age and his growing media presence-alongside his high-profile relationship with pop star Taylor Swift-some have speculated that he may consider retiring, much like his brother Jason Kelce, who recently stepped away from football.
However, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Kelce appears to be leaning toward continuing his career. Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Russini explained the current outlook regarding the Chiefs star:
“There’s definitely a sense that Travis is going to try to play more. I haven’t heard anyone saying, ‘Yeah, he’s really struggling with what he wants to do.’ It’s definitely leaning more towards that. That can of course change… But for this Chiefs operation looking to move forward here, I think they feel pretty good that Travis has a little more left in him.”
What This Means for the Chiefs
If Kelce does return for another season, the Chiefs are expected to welcome him back without hesitation.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, alongside legends like Tony Gonzalez and Rob Gronkowski.
While Gonzalez holds several all-time records at the position, and Gronkowski has four Super Bowl titles, another championship with Kansas City could solidify Kelce‘s place among the most accomplished tight ends of all time.
Despite his experience and skill, Kelce showed signs of slowing down during the 2024 season.
While still an integral part of the Chiefs‘ offense, his explosiveness was less evident at times. Should he return, adapting his style of play-potentially taking on a more possession-based role-could be key to extending his career.
Ultimately, Kelce‘s decision could depend on how competitive the Chiefs remain and whether the team makes improvements, particularly on the offensive line.
If he does play another season, his performance in 2025 may determine whether retirement becomes a more immediate consideration.
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