Travis Kelce insisted at Tremendous Bowl Opening Evening that he nonetheless had a number of years of soccer left in him. However because the Kansas City Chiefs put together for Super Bowl LIX (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX), Kelce could be getting ready to lace up the cleats one final time.
The Chiefs star tight finish has but to make up his thoughts on whether or not he’ll play in 2025, according to NFL Media. It added in its report that Kelce is not anticipated to decide on his soccer future till after the Tremendous Bowl, however earlier than free company begins on March 12.
Kelce, 35, had one other productive season for the Chiefs in 2024. Nevertheless, the 12-year professional had arguably his worst season since his rookie yr, when he appeared in only one recreation. He totaled 97 receptions for 823 yards and three touchdowns in 16 regular-season video games in 2024, with the latter two being the fewest he is had in a yr since he was a rookie.
Within the postseason, Kelce popped in opposition to the Houston Texans, recording seven receptions for 117 yards and a landing within the Chiefs’ divisional-round win. He had a quieter outing, although, within the AFC Championship Recreation, with simply two receptions on 4 targets for 19 yards.
As Kelce will flip 36 a month into the 2025 common season, there have been some rumors that the 2024 season can be his final. His older brother, Jason Kelce, retired after the 2023 season when he was 36.
The youthful Kelce additionally has a golden alternative to exit on a excessive observe. The Chiefs are in search of to develop into the primary staff in NFL historical past to win three straight Tremendous Bowls. In the event that they beat the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce will match Rob Gronkowski, Randy Grossman and Marv Fleming for essentially the most Tremendous Bowl victories ever for a decent finish with 4.
The results of Tremendous Bowl LIX may play a think about Kelce’s resolution, in response to NFL Media.
Kelce has one yr left on a contract he renegotiated in 2024, holding a $19.8 million cap hit for 2025. On Monday, Kelce stated that he wished to play longer than that.
“Hopefully nonetheless taking part in soccer,” Kelce said on where he plans to be in three years. “I really like doing this, I really like coming into work day-after-day. I really feel like I nonetheless have numerous good soccer left in me. We’ll see what occurs. I do know I have been setting myself up for different alternatives in my life. That is all the time been the objective understanding soccer solely lasts for therefore lengthy. It’s important to discover a method to get into one other profession and one other occupation. I have been doing that in my offseason.
“However for essentially the most half, I plan on being a Kansas Metropolis Chief and taking part in soccer.”
If Sunday marks the ultimate recreation of Kelce’s profession, he’ll retire as arguably the best tight finish of all time, whatever the end result. He is third all-time amongst tight ends in receiving yards (12,151) and receptions (1,004), in addition to fifth in receiving touchdowns (77) on the place. Within the postseason, solely Jerry Rice has extra receiving yards (2,245 to 2,039) and receiving touchdowns (22 to twenty) than Kelce, who has essentially the most receptions in postseason historical past (174).
[Related: How Travis Kelce has evolved with the Chiefs]
As Kelce’s been integral to the Chiefs’ dynasty, his stardom has solely grown lately as a result of off-field developments. His relationship with Taylor Swift has been one of many NFL’s prime storylines for the reason that begin of the 2023 season, whereas Kelce has notably begun an appearing profession and hosts successful podcast together with his brother.
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