Travis Kelce reaches decision on next career move amid NFL retirement rumors

Travis Kelce has enjoyed a special NFL career which includes two Super Bowl wins and despite the retirement rumors he plans to keep playing for some time to come

Travis Kelce is expected to continue his NFL career after this season despite rumors he could retire at the end of the year.

There had been whispers Kelce could look to hang up his cleats at the end of the season amid his new whirlwind romance with pop megastar Taylor Swift, with fans and figures around the league alike wondering if he might call it a day. He also had a slight drop in prediction this campaign and his streak of consecutive seasons with at least 1000 receiving yards is now over, falling just 16 short.

But any fears that Kelce would be hanging up his cleats soon are now at ease as NFL Network insider Ian Rapport declared that the 34-year-old will continue to play next year. “My understanding is he does in fact plan to play next year,” he said. “He’s a little more sore than usual and may have to change his offseason routine, but he does expect to be out there.”

While speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kelce told reporters that his career is not over just yet as he goes in pursuit of a third Super Bowl win. “I love it. We still have success,” he said. “Come in with the right mindset, and I just love the challenge it gives me every single day to try and be at my best. Like I said, I have no desire to stop anytime soon.”

Kelce previously said that he has given retirement some thought, but not to the extent that he seriously thought about what he might do if he stopped playing for the Chiefs. “I’ve been fortunate to do a few things outside of the sports world that I’ve been enjoying doing, like getting on camera,” he added. “The [‘Saturday Night Live’] stuff kind of opened up a new happiness and maybe a new career path for me.

“But it’s funny for me to even say that at this point in my career. I think it’s so much further down the road than it is right now.” Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs will begin their playoff campaign against the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card round this evening. The Chiefs played the Dolphins once in the regular season, beating them 12-14 in Germany and will look to defeat them once again to keep their season alive.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has no desire to retire from the sport just yet ( Image: X/@KCStar)

“It’s hard to beat anybody twice,” two-time Super Bowl winner said on a bonus episode of his New Heights podcast with brother and Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce. “That was proven when we lost to the Raiders and the Broncos the second time around. It’s never easy. But at the same time, the playoffs usually bring out a little bit more creativity and determined focus.

“It’s almost as if you’re playing the team for the first time, for me. Just the mindset is a little bit more tactical, a little bit more locked in on everything. It’s going to be a hell of a challenge.” The game is set to be played in freezing conditions, possibly as low as -5 degrees, so those attending Arrowhead Stadium tonight will need to wrap up warm.

This will be an advantage for the Chiefs as their opponents have not played a game in any temperature below 10 degrees. One of those expected to be in attendance this evening is Kelce’s partner and music icon, Swift. She has been to 10 Chiefs games and counting this season, with the AFC West team winning five. She will hope to witness a victory for the Chiefs who aim to successfully defend the Super Bowl for the first time in their history.