Chiefs' Travis Kelce makes major statement about retirement

Ahead of the Super Bowl, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN revealed that he'd "bet" Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will continue playing beyond the matchup versus the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Kelce directly addressed the subject while speaking with reporters on Monday night. 

"I've thought about it, but I still love what I do," Kelce explained, as shared by Kevin Patra of the NFL's website. "It's moments like these, weeks like these, the month that we just had in the playoffs that make me feel like I could play this game forever. I think I still got a lot of football left in me. I think this year has been one of the most special years of my life. I think it's gonna continue to make me want to do more in the football world."

Kelce acknowledged in the fall of 2023 that he had thought about retirement "more than anyone could ever imagine" amid his ongoing relationship with entertainment superstar Taylor Swift. However, the 35-year-old then repeatedly said before the start of this season that he still enjoyed being an active player even though he's a three-time Super Bowl champion who has nothing left to prove regarding his Hall of Fame resume.  

Kelce signed a new two-year contract last spring and then suggested he wants to match basketball legend Michael Jordan by earning six career championship rings before he rides off into the sunset. On Monday night, Kelce hinted he could still be playing at the highest level three years down the road. 

"I love doing this," Kelce continued. "I love coming into work every day. I feel like I still got a lot of good football left in me. We'll see what happens. I know I've been setting myself up for other opportunities in my life. That's always been the goal, knowing that football only lasts for so long. You've got to find a way to get into another career, another profession. I've been doing that in my offseasons. But for the most part, I'm planning on being a Kansas City Chief and playing football."

Per ESPN stats, Kelce led the Chiefs for the 2024 regular season with 97 receptions, 133 targets and 823 receiving yards. Across a pair of January playoff wins, he tallied a total of nine catches for 136 yards and a touchdown. 

Such stats seem to show he can still offer plenty for a franchise that should remain a Super Bowl contender for the foreseeable future with an in-his-prime Patrick Mahomes leading the charge.