Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelcehas already secured his legacy as one of the greatest tight ends of all time, but that doesn't mean he's ready to walk away from his NFL career.
"I know I'm 34 years old, about to be 35, but I have a love to do this right here in the middle of the heat in June," Kelce said ahead of the Chiefs' minicamp session in June 2024. "I love coming to work every single day and doing this."
According to a study by RBC Wealth Management, the average retirement age for an NFL player is 27.6 years old, but Kelce added that he plans to keep playing football "until the wheels fall off."
Travis' brother, Jason Kelce, who is two years his senior, set an example of a graceful exit when he retired from the Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the 2023 season. During a June 2024 episode of their "New Heights" podcast, Jason gave his brother some retirement wisdom.
"This is when you're going to start knowing, whenever this time comes, and you need to walk away," Jason said. "[It's] the fighting your body, like, you used to be able to do something you can't do anymore. That's when it's like you're fighting that, to continue to get that back. That's when it starts to become hard. Bottom line is everyone knows when it's time for them."
Unlike Jason, Travis doesn't have a family to factor into his retirement timeline - Jason shares daughters Wyatt, Elliotte and Bennett with wife Kylie Kelce - but he is in a committed relationship with Taylor Swift. Although a source exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2024 that Travis has "no plans" to propose to Swift anytime soon, the pair's romance is going as strong as their respective careers.
Following the Chiefs' 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, a somber Kelce said, "We haven't played that bad all season."
Kelce didn't address his playing future during his brief comments to reporters.
When Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked if he thought Kelce would return for another season, he said, "I'll let Travis make that decision on his own."
Mahomes added, "He's given so much to this team and to the NFL, and been such a joy not only for me to work with but [for] people to watch."
October 2025
Travis discussed his potential retirement during an interview on ESPN'S Monday Night Countdown with his brother, Jason.
"Man, I'll be fortunate to keep having fun with these guys year in year out, man," Travis said, adding, "I take it day by day, year by year. I just love coming into work with these guys."
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