Chiefs GM Reveals Travis Kelce’s Retirement Plans: Is He Staying or Going?

It sounds like Travis Kelce isn’t taking to the sidelines just yet.

During an interview on February 25 at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, it seemed like Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach dismissed speculations that Travis Kelce might be retiring following the 2025 Super Bowl.

At the conclusion of the season, his enthusiasm was palpable, as Veach put it. He’s got another year left on his contract, but I believe he maintains the passion and drive to keep playing.

According to The Athletic’s Senior NFL analyst, Dianna Russini, there are indications that the tight end might choose to stay put.

A week ago, Russini stated on The Rich Eisen Show that based on his recent discussions with individuals within the league, there’s a strong feeling that Travis might increase his playing time. He didn’t mention anyone expressing doubts about Travis’s intentions regarding his career.

On the other hand, it appears that Travis hasn’t expressed any thoughts about his upcoming plans. To be precise, during a recent episode of his New Heights podcast on February 12th, he mentioned that he’s not planning to make any drastic decisions at this moment.

Travis stated, “There’s a lot of curiosity about whether I’ll be playing next season, and at this moment, I’m postponing all decisions. I’m not going to make any impulsive choices. Instead, I plan to ponder over it carefully.” He added, “If I do return, I want it to be with complete dedication. I won’t half-heartedly commit and will always be fully committed to my teammates.

Travis, aged 35, had previously secured a two-year deal, making him the highest earning tight end in the NFL. Despite rumors suggesting a $11.5 million roster bonus if he agrees to continue into the next season by March 14th, Veach appears unfazed about the supposed deadline.

He implied that there’s no specific timeframe for his return, suggesting instead that we’re eagerly awaiting his comeback and looking forward to seeing him active again.

For more on Travis, read on.

The special, playful-yet-protective relationship between Travis Kelce and his older brother, Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles, stands out. Despite their parents, Donna and Ed Kelce, being divorced, they maintain a close-knit family. They employ what Ed referred to as the “divide and conquer” strategy in their parenting, ensuring that at least one parent is present at each of their sons’ games.

As per Jason, Travis is an outstanding uncle. He has the pleasure of sharing daughters Wyatt, Elliotte, and Bennett with his spouse, Kylie Kelce.

At the premiere of the Prime Video documentary Kelce, Jason jokingly told TopMob News, “My daughters are instantly attracted to him – it’s not only because he’s handsome, but also because he’s a genuinely entertaining person. He’s captivating and full of energy, like he has endless days worth.

Although Travis’ eldest niece might not easily agree, as seen in a heartwarming video shared by Jason, Wyatt firmly told Uncle Travis that he can’t have pink hair because she strongly believes “You’re misbehaving and you’re cunning!” However, there’s hope for Travis to sway Bennett’s opinion, since the moment he held her in a cherished memory was beautifully captured on camera, known as the “Kelce” recording.

Travis mentioned two instances from his past that left him feeling small, which showed him that enjoying oneself isn’t everything; there are other matters of greater significance.

As a kid from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, I found myself kicked off my high school football team due to poor grades in French, which meant I couldn’t play alongside my brother during his senior year. Adding to the embarrassment, a similar situation unfolded at the University of Cincinnati when I was suspended for the entire 2010 season following a positive marijuana test. I shared this story on the January 10th episode of The Pivot podcast.

He not only realized he had let down his family, but also the entire community who had backed him. Consequently, when it was necessary for him to rejoin the team and change positions from quarterback to tight end, he said, “I had certain rules I had to adhere to,” he reminisced, “and this established a routine and structure in my life that I hadn’t previously given much importance. Once I discovered this routine, I started applying it to every part of my existence.

After an impressive comeback with the Bearcats in the 2012 season, Travis was honored as the Tight End of the Year at the College Football Performance Awards. However, contrary to his expectations, he wasn’t selected as a top pick for the NFL Draft in 2013; instead, he had to wait until the third round to hear the call.

In the end, it was Jason who spoke positively about Andy Reid, the new Kansas City Chiefs coach, who had previously worked with the older Kelce brother. Impressed by the controversial reputation of Travis, Andy Reid decided to give him a chance.

This year, Travis shared with Vanity Fair that he is eternally grateful to his sibling who allowed him to live with them after losing his scholarship. He vouched for Travis not only in college but also in the NFL. Travis expressed, “I owe it all to this person because he risked his reputation and our name to give me another opportunity. When I say I am indebted to him, I truly mean it.

Despite the fact that they find it amusing now, Travis made a joke about himself in his SNL monologue: “It turns out, even if you struggle with school and use marijuana, you can still win the Super Bowl twice.

Being the host of Saturday Night Live was a long-cherished dream realized for Travis, and while he’s committed to seeing out his current contract which expires in 2025, he’s far from done exploring the expansive landscape of non-sports entertainment. Besides co-hosting the New Heights podcast with Jason and maintaining my comedic skills through commercial gigs for State Farm and Campbell’s Soup, I’ve also joined forces with Creative Artists Agency. The world should brace itself, as I’m open to taking on just about anything!

“I don’t know if what I want to do has really been done yet,” he told Vanity Fair.

Travis hinted at a potential career in sports broadcasting, expressing, “I can comfortably discuss football, and connect with my audience. I can delve into the strategies, simplify complexities, and help newcomers grasp the game. Furthermore, I can add enthusiasm to it.

It’s common knowledge that many people care deeply for Travis’s future wellbeing, yet they’ve been careful to respect his privacy, unless their comments are made in jest.

Jason jokingly hinted to Travis on the September 6th episode of New Heights that since Kylie fell for him on Tinder, she might have some useful dating tips. When asked about which style he should sport in his profile picture – mustache or no mustache, Kylie suggested that Travis should keep his existing facial hair as “if they swiped right when you looked your worst, then they’ll adore you even more when you look your best.

To which Travis replied, “That doesn’t even hurt my feelings, this is smart. It’s genius.”

Travis’ romantic journey, known as Catching Kelce, began by having 50 possible suitors, one lady representing each state. After some time, he chose his ideal match, Maya Benberry from Kentucky, and the two dated for a while.

In an interview with TopMob News prior to the show’s premiere in October 2016, Travis described his girlfriend as simply fantastic. He confessed that it was difficult to conceal their relationship and its outcome, but he chose her because he had particular feelings for her.

Despite his eagerness for success, he acknowledged that he wasn’t in a hurry to reach the finish line. He described himself as someone who goes with the flow, seizes opportunities when they present themselves, and is highly driven towards achieving his goals. Moreover, he mentioned that he’s still getting to know her, and marriage, being a significant step, requires time to ensure one is ready for it.

After everything was disclosed, Maya exclaimed with joy, “I truly feel like the most fortunate woman on earth! To have him as my partner, and I can confidently say he’s mine now, it’s simply astonishing that my ideal man has become a reality for me!

However, the life coach and brand consultant no longer appears to be Travis’s supporter, stating to DailyMail.com following Taylor Swift’s appearance at his game: “Taylor seems like an enjoyable girl with a wonderful spirit, so I wish her good fortune. Yet, if I didn’t advise her to exercise caution, I wouldn’t be called a woman’s ally! I’m confident she has already learned how to discern who truly cares for her—and who merely uses her.

Travis has shared on the show “New Heights” that direct messages (DMs) could occasionally be used for making connections with others, and he’s expressing this based on his personal experiences.

In the year 2017, I made a subtle appearance on Kayla Nicole’s Instagram, appreciating her posts and navigating through her Instagram Stories. I wasn’t hasty to express my admiration; instead, I wanted to be thorough. As TopMob News reported in February 2022, she became aware of my attention towards her. “Gradually,” I explained, “she responded on New Year’s, symbolizing a fresh start for both of us. She took the initiative, direct messaged me, and since then, our story has unfolded.

On March 12, 2022, Kayla attended Travis’ wedding as his date to Patrick Mahomes, which took place in Hawaii. However, their relationship didn’t last the entire year.

On The Pivot in January, Travis shared that he’s currently living in an open market, speaking about his personal circumstances. Being a professional athlete, he clarified, necessitates such specificity. Essentially, he expressed that he’s out there, savoring life and concentrating on his career.

On September 24, 2023, marks a significant milestone in the dance I’ve been engaged in for quite some time now. This is a new chapter, moving from a one-sided routine to something more collaborative.

In an interview on The Pat McAfee Show on September 20, he mentioned that he had extended an invitation for Taylor to join him in a game, since he had previously watched her play.

Travis mentioned that they would soon discover what transpires, implying that the outcome is now up to her decision. In other words, he used several figurative expressions to express this idea.

Four days on, it was Taylor, a declared Eagles enthusiast, who donned a Chiefs raincoat and New Balance shoes, appearing entirely at ease while socializing with Donna. In fact, she exclaimed, “Let’s hit the road!” – a phrase that became globally recognized. Remarkably, her preferred sauce is now being commercially bottled and distributed. Analysts have even started strategizing Taylor and Travis’ upcoming plans for the following six months, acting as Monday-morning football experts.

At the stadium following the game, the duo was spotted climbing into Travis’ 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle convertible and subsequently departing toward the horizon. Instead of whisking her away to a private locale, Romeo reserved a spot for her at the post-game celebration.

While it’s advisable to wager that the total number of punt returns in the entire NFL could break records this season, it’s unlikely you’ll unearth significant information from Team Kelce.

During a radio interview on September 20th, Jason expressed his belief that the rumors about Travis and Taylor dating were entirely accurate, but admitted he was largely joking. Later, Travis himself stated on The Pat McAfee Show that everyone should stop asking about it, calling his brother “absolutely ridiculous”. After their game on September 24th, Mahomes mentioned he wasn’t even sure if Travis was being serious when he brought up Taylor attending.

The Chiefs quarterback shared with reporters that he was informed about something crucial quite late in the game, and as for Trav, sometimes what he says is uncertain.

A couple of days following the confirmation, Mahomes commended Taylor as “really cool, great individuals” during an interview at the team’s headquarters. However, similar to what Trav stated, Mahomes opted to respect their privacy and carry on with his routine.

In a 2012 interview with Extra (thanks to TikTokers for bringing it back), Taylor expressed her disappointment that no one has ever done anything extraordinary to catch her eye romantically. She added, “I can’t recall any instance, which is fortunate because it means the standard is quite low for potential suitors in the future. If a guy simply exists and shows up, I’ll be amazed!

Interestingly enough, this is exactly what numerous fans of Taylor (often referred to as Swifties) have been discussing about Travis. The speculated relationship has sparked a conversation among those who believe Taylor played a significant role in making the eight-time Pro Bowl athlete famous, and those who primarily follow football.

But now we know what becomes of curious minds.

In the September 27th episode of New Heights (with over 2 million views on YouTube), Jason and Travis encountered some basic questions more frequently than usual. For example, “@ISaidSpeakNow” asked “What’s a field goal?”, while “@TheMadWomanIsMe” questioned if they run or throw the ball during play.

Kelce admitted that he was responsible for everything, ranging from the paparazzi at his home to the slow-motion replays happening in the visitors’ suite. He acknowledged that he was well aware of it all.

2025-02-26 04:48

Read More