After over a decade in the NFL, it makes sense that some fans might be wondering about Travis Kelce’s retirement plans. And they’re not the only ones—even Kelce, during a past interview with the Wall Street Journal, has said he thinks about retirement “more than anyone could imagine.” But does that mean it’s on the horizon?
Ahead of the NFL’s 2024 Wild Card weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs tight-end was asked if he was still thinking about retirement during a press conference. The 34-year-old NFL player joked, “You guys think about retirement? Am I the only one in that boat?”
On a serious note, however, Kelce confirmed that he isn’t looking at retirement in the near future. “I have no reason to stop playing football. I love it,” he shared at the time. “I just love the challenge it gives me every single day to try and be at my best.”
Earlier in the season, Kelce had some fans wondering if retirement was on the horizon after he narrowly missed out on achieving an eighth consecutive season with over 1,000 receiving yards. He fell just 16 yards short, choosing to sit out of Week 18 instead of attempting to set a new personal record. Nevertheless, Kelce is still committed to the game. “Like I said, I have no desire to stop anytime soon,” he told reporters at the press conference ahead of the Chiefs’ Wild Card game against the Miami Dolphins on January 13, 2024.
Beyond the football field, Kelce’s success story continues. His podcast, “New Heights,” co-hosted with his brother Jason Kelce, the center for the Philadelphia Eagles, has officially become the top sports podcast in the country. Endorsements from the podcast have also been contributing to Travis Kelce’s net worth. And let’s not forget, he has even gone on to host Saturday Night Live, solidifying his status as one of the NFL’s biggest personalities.
Image: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images.
Reflecting on his career lately, Kelce shared, “I’ve been fortunate to do a few things outside of the sports world, like getting on camera. The SNL stuff opened up a new happiness and maybe a new career path for me.” But it sounds like that new career can wait: “I think [retirement] is so much further down the road than it is right now,” he told reporters.
Kelce’s comments come at a time when the NFL star is reaching all time levels of fame, in part thanks to his well-publicized relationship with Taylor Swift. The pop star, who has been in attendance at many of Kelce’s games since they first started dating in late 2023, also isn’t shying away from letting the world know about their romance.
“When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she said in her Time 2023 Person of the Year profile. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone. And we’re just proud of each other.”
As for Kelce, whether it’s conquering the football field, hosting podcasts, or navigating the public eye with Taylor, he’s showing no signs of slowing down—and that’s always good news for fans.
