As Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs gear up for their Super Bowl LIX clash against the Philadelphia Eagles, there’s increasing speculation that this might be Kelce’s final game with the team. NFL insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network noted that Travis Kelce is currently uncertain about retirement, stating that Sunday night “could, in fact, be the final time that we see Travis Kelce on a football field.”
“From what I am told, Travis Kelce is undecided about whether or not he wants to play during the 2025 season,” Rapoport said. “He believes he has a lot of good football left in him and envisions playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, but he hasn’t made any definitive statements. He mentioned, ‘We’ll see what happens,’ suggesting he’s keeping his options open.” Kelce has much awaiting him should he choose retirement, including a burgeoning acting career, hosting opportunities, appearances in commercials, and his popular podcast, New Heights, alongside his brother Jason.
Additionally, his relationship with superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift has seen them traveling extensively during the offseason. “The difference with Travis Kelce compared to basically any other player I can remember is that he can make significantly more money off the field post-retirement,” Rapoport explained. “So much awaits him when he decides to stop playing football. At 35 years old, still performing near the top of his game—though potentially slowed down this year—he will likely take some time after the game to evaluate his future. But there’s no guarantee he’ll play next year.”
While Kelce has been fairly noncommittal, he indicated prior to the Super Bowl that he intends to return to the Chiefs. “Hopefully still playing football,” he expressed regarding his plans for next season, according to ESPN. “I love doing this; coming to work every day is a joy. I believe I still have plenty of good football left in me. We’ll see what happens. I know I’ve been preparing for other opportunities in life, as football has a limited shelf life. I’ve been working on that in the offseason, but primarily, I plan on being a Kansas City Chief and continuing to play football.” Rapoport anticipates that Kelce will “make a decision before free agency, which officially begins March 12.”
