Travis Kelce still undecided about retirement: 'There's a lot of love for the game that's still there'
- - Travis Kelce still undecided about retirement: 'There's a lot of love for the game that's still there'
Chris Cwik January 7, 2026 at 11:36 PM
0
Days after the Kansas City Chiefs' Week 18 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, star tight end Travis Kelce remains undecided about his future. Kelce addressed his playing status on the latest episode of the "New Heights" podcast, stressing he will take some time to see how he feels this offseason before making a decision.
Kelce, 36, said he still has "a lot of love" for football, but will see how his body responds now that he has some time to rest.
His full comments:
"You know, I've talked to a few people in the facility already, having the exit meetings and everything. They know where I stand, at least right now. There's a lot of love for the game that's still there, and I don't know if I'll ever lose that.
"I don't know. It's a tough thing to navigate, but at the same time, if my body can heal up and rest up and I can feel confident that I can go out there and give it another 18-, 20-, 21-week run, I would do it in a heartbeat.
"I think right now it's just finding that answer and seeing how the body feels after this game and kinda when it all settles down."
Kelce's brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, then asked Travis about some comments made by Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who said after Week 18 that he expects Travis to return for another year.
When asked about Kelce following Sunday's game, Jones said, "He'll be back next year."
Kelce laughed off that quote, saying, "That's why we love Chris. He's very optimistic." Kelce then very quickly transitioned from that topic, not wanting to address it anymore.
In many ways, Kelce experienced a bounce-back season in 2025. After a down year in 2024, Kelce hauled in 76 passes for 851 yards and 5 touchdowns this season. While those figures were down compared to his prime, Kelce had a higher yards per reception, more receiving yards and more receiving touchdowns compared to 2024.
While that offered some proof Kelce can still play, it's unclear if he'll want to return for another year, especially with Patrick Mahomes looking at some missed time at the start of the 2026 NFL season. Mahomes tore his ACL in December, and will spend the entire offseason rehabbing from the injury. The team has not put a timeline on Mahomes' return.
If Mahomes misses time next season, Kelce would open the year catching passes from Chiefs backups. That didn't lead to a lot of success in Week 18, as Kelce hauled in just three catches for 12 yards in the contest. That was essentially how things went for Kelce once Mahomes got hurt. After Mahomes was lost for the season, Kelce failed to score a touchdown the rest of the way.
In addition to his overall health, Kelce will have to take that into consideration when debating whether he wants to run it back for another season. The 36-year-old has already secured his place in Canton and has three Super Bowl rings, so there's not much left for him to accomplish in the NFL.
If he does come back for another season, it will be because Kelce still loves the game. That's a pretty good place to be, all things considered.
Source: “AOL Sports”
