Travis Kelce Talks Possible NFL Retirement: 'Kicking Everything Down the Road'

Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce isn't yet ready to make a decision on retirement following the Chiefs' 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

Speaking Wednesday on his New Heights podcast (beginning at the 8:10 mark), Kelce said he is "kicking everything down the road" as it relates to deciding on his NFL future.

Kelce provided more insight into his headspace at the 9:50 mark of the podcast, saying:

"It's just a tough reality. And, you know, I think I'm going to take some time to figure it out. And I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, that it's going to be something that it's a wholehearted decision and I'm not half-assing it. And I'm fully here for them.

"I think I could play. It's just whether or not I'm motivated or it's the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility."

The 35-year-old Kelce is one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history and will almost certainly be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer in the future.

As dominant as he has been over the course of his career with 10 Pro Bowl nods, four First Team All-Pro selections and three Super Bowl wins, his level of play has clearly dipped over the past couple of seasons.

Kelce's streak of seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons came to an end in 2023 when he finished with 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns.

While it was a down year by his lofty standards, Kelce turned it on during the playoffs, leading all players in receptions (32), receiving yardage (355) and receiving touchdowns (three) en route to the Chiefs winning their second straight Super Bowl.

Kelce's playoff performance didn't necessarily carry over to 2024, as he had his lowest yardage (823) and touchdown (three) output since his rookie year when he appeared in only one game.

Although Kelce did manage to reel in 97 receptions in 16 games, his 8.5 yards per catch were a career low by more than two whole yards.

After putting up seven catches for 117 yards and one touchdown in the AFC Divisional Round against the Houston Texans, Kelce was essentially invisible the rest of the playoffs finishing with two catches for 19 yards against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game and four catches for 39 yards in the Super Bowl against Philly.

The Philadelphia defense imposed its will on Kansas City's offensive line and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, sacking him six times and forcing two interceptions.

KC did not score any points until the final minute of the third quarter, so the final score of the Super Bowl doesn't tell the entire story of just how one-sided it was in the Eagles' favor.

Before the Super Bowl, Kelce told reporters that he sees himself "hopefully still playing football" for the Chiefs in three years.

However, ESPN's Adam Schefter said Sunday on SportsCenter that Kelce was undecided about his football future and had to "sift through his opportunities this offseason."

Given his star power and the recognition that comes along with dating Taylor Swift, Kelce would likely be able to parlay his fame into any number of other gigs outside of football if he decides to step away.

It is fair to wonder, though, if Kelce would prefer to go out on better terms than a blowout loss in the Super Bowl.