Travis Kelce continues to weigh whether he will return for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran tight end has addressed the topic publicly in recent years, opening up about the toll football has taken on his body and how he is approaching the decision with his family and the organization.
Travis Kelce’s ‘Would’ Comment Stood Out on ‘New Heights’
Kelce offered his clearest recent update on retirement during “New Heights,” the podcast he hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce. While describing what it would take to return, Kelce made it clear he is still in the decision-making process.
“If I think 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 think I would do it in a heartbeat,” Kelce said.
Kelce did not say he will do it in a heartbeat. He said he would — a word choice that suggests he is leaving space for uncertainty until he knows how his body responds.
He also said the Chiefs are aware of where he currently stands.
“I’ve talked to a few people in the facility already, you know, having the exit meetings and everything, and they know where I stand, at least right now,” he said. “And I think there’s a lot of love for the game that’s still there, and I don’t think I’ll ever lose that. And I don’t know, it’s a tough thing to navigate.”
Kelce Said He Thinks About Retiring ‘More Than Anyone Could Ever Imagine’ Years Ago
Kelce previously spoke about retirement in WSJ Magazine’s December/January 2023 issue, explaining that it is a subject he thinks about often — largely due to the physical demands of football.
Kelce said he thinks about retiring “more than anyone could ever imagine,” while describing the pain and long-term wear from his career.
“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,” Kelce said. He added that he still feels “every single surgery to this day.”
The report included insight from Chiefs tight ends coach Tom Melvin, who said Kelce continues playing through injuries that sideline many athletes.
“He has phenomenal pain tolerance. He’s played through things that other athletes I’ve coached through the years have not been able to push through,” Melvin said. “He’s mentally tough — way off the charts.”
Kelce’s personal trainer and physical therapist, Alex Skacel, also described the constant treatment Kelce requires during the season, explaining there is not a single day where he isn’t dealing with bruises and scrapes that require more than basic recovery work.
Kelce Told Tony Gonzalez Return Is a ‘Two-Way Street’ With the Chiefs
Kelce addressed retirement speculation again after the Chiefs’ Christmas night loss to the Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. Denver won 20-13.
Before the game, Kelce spoke with former Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez on Prime Video and emphasized that returning is not solely his decision.
“I got to hope that if I do want to come back, the Chiefs are willing to bring me back, so it’s a two-way street on that,” Kelce said. “But at the same time, at this point in this year, I’m just trying to finish out and give Chiefs Kingdom everything I got and go out there and do it with some of that flair.”
Kelce also said he has spoken with Jason Kelce about retirement and how his brother came to his decision.
“I’m asking myself, what was it for you that helped you find that answer?” Kelce said.
Gonzalez praised Kelce’s career and pointed to what could come next beyond football.
“You have won Super Bowl rings, you have been all pro, you have done stuff off the field, you have stuff waiting for you after the season’s over — the sky’s the limit on what your next chapter is going to be,” Gonzalez said.
The Chiefs TE Says He’s Make That Decision ‘When the Time Comes’
After the loss, Kelce spoke in a postgame press conference shared on YouTube by KMBC-TV and described the emotions of playing in a nationally televised game while younger players were getting opportunities.
“You’ve got everybody in the world watching you,” he said. “You get to go out there with the young guys on prime-time television. Young guys getting an opportunity to taste what this NFL life is like.”
When asked what he was thinking in what could have been his final game at Arrowhead, Kelce focused on the fans.
“You only get a few of those moments where you just get to stand there and appreciate 60- to 70,000 Chiefs fans screaming for you,” he said. “I always embrace that moment, it’s fun and hopefully I got everybody fired up for it.”
Kelce said he will make the retirement decision later with his inner circle.
“I’ll let that be a decision I’ll make with my family, friends, the Chiefs organization when the time comes,” he said.