It’s no secret Travis Kelce has put together a Hall of Fame resume. He’s won two Super Bowls and has made eight Pro Bowls — accomplishing these feats before the age of 35.
But could 35 become the cutoff for Kelce?
Travis Kelce Addresses New Retirement Focus
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal on Monday, Nov. 20, Kelce did more than address his newfound love life with country/pop singer Taylor Swift.
He was asked the burning question: is retirement on his mind?
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“More than anyone could ever imagine,” Kelce said.
But his highly publicized relationship with the 12-time Grammy winner has nothing to do with his thoughts of hanging up the cleats.
Why Is Kelce Suddenly Thinking About Retirement?
For Kelce, why he believes he’s nearing the end has more to do with the health toll of the game.
Even while putting together a Hall of Fame resume, it’s come with a physical toll. He’s dealt with a myriad of injuries while playing one of the more physical positions on the football field, tight end. And the bumps, bruises, and high tolerance of pain have added up.
“That’s the only thing I’ve never really been open about, the discomfort. The pain. The lingering injuries … the 10 surgeries I’ve had, that I still feel every single surgery to this day,” Kelce said.
It’s a far different answer compared to the one Kelce gave during a June 2023 minicamp when he was asked when he would retire.
“‘Til the wheels fall off, baby,” Kelce said at the time. “I just love the game. I think that kind of keeps me living with, I don’t know, a young, fun-loving football player. I get to play a game for a living at the age of 33, 34, and I think that’s something — you know, I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want to lose that excitement that I had for a game when I was a kid.”
If Kelce Continues, How Long Can He Play With the Kansas City Chiefs?
Say Kelce opts to continue playing after 2023, how long can he play?
That’s where fans have to dive back into his current contract and how much longer he has there.
For Kelce, his current deal runs until 2026 — when he turns 37. He’s still got two more seasons in the four-year, $57.25 million deal he signed in 2021.
That means Kelce would last longer than his predecessor Tony Gonzalez did in K.C. The Hall of Fame tight end played 12 seasons with the Chiefs and was 32 when he signed with the Atlanta Falcons. Kelce is currently in his 11th season in the league.
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