Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce has been involved in several rumors about him potentially retiring after this season. The tight end is in his eleventh season in the NFL and has been making many headlines in 2023 after it was revealed he was dating pop star, Taylor Swift. Many fans and analysts have speculated that Kelce could retire after this season as he is quickly entering the final stages of his career, and the star tight end released a statement on when he would call it a career.
Travis Kelce Addresses Retirement Rumors
The Chiefs tight end addressed these rumors on his podcast, “New Heights” with his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, stating that he would play “until the wheels fall off.”
I haven’t found something outside of football that’s going to challenge me like playoff football, and I don’t know if I’ll ever find that. And that’s one of the things that’ll make me play this game until the wheels fall off. I know that I get to accept these challenges and these difficult games, these difficult matchups, the question of whether or not we’ll prevail– and coming up big for the guys next to me.
It’s an energy and an excitement that I haven’t found anywhere else in the world, and it’s something that I definitely cherish.
How The Rumor Started
Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) against the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
While Kelce was not asked specifically about retirement coming his way shortly, sideline reporter for Sunday Night Football Michelle Tafoya suggested that the star tight end would join his brother Jason in retirement after this season. Kelce has been the best player in Kansas City throughout his entire career aside from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, so his retirement would be a huge loss for the franchise.
Kansas City Chiefs Fans React
Sep 24, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs and Taylor Swift fans show their support against the Chicago Bears during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
While nothing has been set in stone regarding Kelce’s retirement, several fans believe that these rumors are false and that the tight end still has a few good years left in the tank. Here are some fan reactions across social media regarding the retirement rumors:
Do you think that Kelce will retire after this season, especially if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl, or does he still have a few years left in the tank of successful football?
