Travis Kelce makes feelings clear on hardest part about post-retirement life as Chiefs decision leaks
Travis Kelce knows the thrill of running out onto an NFL field can never be replicated once he retires.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end won’t be short of options when he decides to start the timer on his Hall of Fame entry.
But as he spends a second consecutive offseason wondering if he is ready to retire, Kelce reflected on what he would be giving up.
The 36-year-old chatted with brother Jason and legendary receiver Randy Moss on the latest episode of the New Heights podcast.
“Man, the feeling of having to rise to the occasion, be there for, you know, 70,000 that are all counting on you out there, outside of just the guys that you go to war with, you guys go to battle with,” Travis said.
“Man, those moments of rising to the occasion in the heat of the battle, you know, in the playoffs and all the big games out there. Man, that’s a feeling that I know I’ll never get again.
“I think that’s, that’s, that’s something that you know those are, those are the things that you cherish the most, and especially, you know, if you’re fortunate enough to be in the playoffs and make runs at it.
“Man, the satisfaction that you get in the successful feeling you get of all the hard work that you put in, it’s finally paying off.”
Jason will have plenty of advice for his sibling having made the decision to call time on his own storied career in March 2024 as he felt his body couldn’t keep up with the enormous strain of playing pro football.
Travis Kelce decision deadline
Travis is expected to make a call before the start of free agency on March 11 and a Chiefs insider leaked the latest talk coming out of the organization.
ESPN insider Nate Taylor appeared on the Cody & Gold show on 96.5 The Fan in Kansas City Wednesday to discuss the blockbuster Trent McDuffie trade, and Kelce came up.
“He’s coming back, guys,” Taylor insisted. “Every indication I’ve gotten is that Travis Kelce is looking forward to coming back.
“When we’ll know that for sure? That’s really his prerogative.”
Kelce has been projected for a one-year deal in the region of $10 million, but Taylor thinks it could be spread out to help with the cap.
“They might give him, and I’ve said this before. maybe a two-year deal where you can spread some of that money out and give a pretty nice chunk of signing bonus to get that base salary to be manageable in 2026,” Taylor added. “Hey, if you’ve got to eat it in 2027 if he retires, you go ahead and eat it.
“He’s given you everything you could have asked for already.”
Another option is on the table, although it is almost unthinkable.
Kelce could decide he wants to return and fail to strike a deal with the Chiefs.
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“Do the Kansas City Chiefs need a tight end? The future of Travis Kelce still very much up in the air,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote Monday. “Obviously, there’s plenty of discussion.
“General manager Brett Veach talking to reporters saying they really wanted to allow Travis Kelce to go through is process to make absolutely sure he’s going to return for the 2026 season.
“As of right now, that has not been fully determined.”
Should Kelce decide to carry on elsewhere, his hometown Browns could be the perfect fairy tale ending.
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