Despite slowing down in 2024, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has decided to prolong his retirement and return for his age-36 season. Kelce, a former third-round pick, has become one of the all-time greats at the tight end position, winning three Super Bowls with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid while making 10 Pro Bowls and earning First-Team All-Pro honors on four separate occasions. After teasing retirement, Kelce decided to return and recently spoke about that decision.
“I love football. I don’t think I really thought about it (retirement) that much,” Kelce said. “…I love coming in to work every single day. It was a very tough one for me. I know I’m getting older, but at the same time I still feel like I’ve got a lot I can prove in this league. With that being said, it really wasn’t that hard of a decision for me.”
Travis Kelce Speaks on Decision to Return to Football
While Kelce didn’t play up to his usual standard in 2024, he still had some of the best numbers among all tight ends. Starting and appearing in 16 games, the veteran finished the season with 97 receptions for 823 yards and three touchdowns on 133 targets. While a lack of reliable targets somewhat inflated his workload, he still helped the team reach the Super Bowl, although they fell short to the Philadelphia Eagles in the big game.
With Rashee Rice returning to the field and 2024 first-round pick Xavier Worthy getting another year of experience under his belt, don’t be surprised if Travis Kelce takes more of a backseat in 2025. He’ll still be an important part of the offense, but his days of being a 1,000-yard receiver are probably over. If the Chiefs want to win their fourth Super Bowl of the Mahomes Era, they’ll probably need one of the younger players to step up and ease Kelce’s workload.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro – Imagn Images
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