Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has said he will wait until the end of the season to make a decision on retirement.
The 36-year-old also said he wants to make the decision early enough to give his team plenty of time to prepare for the future.
The new league year officially begins on March 11, which also marks the beginning of free agency. But teams can talk to potential free agents in the days leading up to that date ahead of the April draft.
“It’s one of those things where I want to make that decision before they have draft picks and free agency and they can go out there and fill the roster appropriately,” the veteran tight end said.
“All that will be after the season. I don’t want to think about it until then.”
Kelce’s brother, Jason, retired after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and made the announcement in March 2024, giving his team enough time to plan their roster.
“Seeing my brother go through it and seeing how the league works, I’m going to give the Chiefs a good opportunity whether I come back or not and vice versa,” Kelce added.
There was speculation that Kelce might retire after the Chiefs’ loss to the Eagles in the Super Bowl in February, but he announced his intention to get in better shape in the offseason and return.
“I think it’s not a matter of effort. It’s all just execution,” Kelce continued.
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Travis Kelce celebrates scoring the most combined touchdowns in Kansas City Chiefs history with The Fate of Ophelia’s dance for fiancée Taylor Swift as they beat the Washington Commanders.
“We’re in here every single day grinding our tails and trying to get it right. You can feel it from the coaches. They tighten things up a little bit so we focus on those details and so we can play fast and play with a purpose.”
Kelce said the chemistry on this year’s team is “one of the most fun teams I’ve been on in a while.”
“I’m excited every single day we enter this building,” he added. “There’s still a chance. I’m fighting man. I think right now it’s a different season than we’ve had really since I can remember. That being said, every single day is a new challenge and I love that.”
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