The Travis Kelce retirement rumors probably aren’t slowing down soon.
Days after his brother, Jason, said he was “curious” whether Travis would retire after the season, Chiefs coach Andy Reid did little to dispel speculation that Kelce could be playing in his final two NFL games. Reid said he “didn’t know” whether Thursday’s game against Denver — the Chiefs’ final home game of the season — would be Kelce’s last at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I don’t know if it is or not. I haven’t talked to him,” Reid said.
Kelce and the Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs and guaranteed the team’s first losing season under Reid after a loss last week to the Tennessee Titans. The 13-year NFL veteran is also in his final year under contract with Kansas City. He declined to comment on the retirement rumors in a recent press conference.
“I think I’d rather just keep the focus of the media and everything on this team right now,” Kelce said. “All the conversations that I have with the team and everything moving forward will be with them.”
Kelce contemplated retirement after last season, he previously said on his “New Heights” podcast. He later announced that he would return, citing Kansas City’s blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX as a primary reason for his return. Kelce said he “wanted to give it a good run” this season.
Instead, Kansas City limped to the franchise’s worst season since 2012. Kelce posted 68 receptions for 803 receiving yards and five touchdowns, tying Jerry Rice for the most consecutive seasons with at least 800 receiving yards. It was a resurgent campaign after last year’s regression, but still far short of the numbers from his dominant eight-year stretch.
The Chiefs roster will likely undergo a retooling in the offseason, which could mean moving on from Kelce. It’s also a unique time in the 36-year-old’s life. He recently became engaged to pop star Taylor Swift, and their wedding is set for next summer. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes said earlier this season that Kelce will “have the option to do whatever he wants to do after this season.”
Despite the Chiefs playing in essentially meaningless games, Kelce said he always planned to play down the stretch of Kansas City’s season, earning admiration from his coach. The two have developed a strong relationship over 12-plus seasons, as Kelce has repeatedly said he won’t play for a coach other than Reid.
“I think his numbers and personality and the person, I think, speak for themselves. He’s a phenomenal person. He’s great for the community (and) has been great for the community. He’s everything you want from a player representing an organization,” Reid said.