Chiefs TE Travis Kelce shares how, when he wants to retire

During the latest edition of the “New Heights” podcast, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce touched upon a playing retirement that may be closer than he suggested last week.

“I think you were very fortunate that you were able to go out on your terms and that’s the goal,” Kelce told brother and recently retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, as shared by Jaclyn Hendricks of the New York Post. “If I can go out on my terms and not have something happen to my body, like a big-time injury to where I have to step away, that’s the biggest goal in football to be able to do it on my terms.”

While speaking with reporters ahead of Kansas City’s summer break, Travis insisted last week he wants to continue playing “until the wheels fall off.” However, the three-time Super Bowl champion – who turns 35 years old in October – suggested during his chat with Jason that he’ll listen to his body regarding his eventual retirement decision.

“I know I can go out there and catch a flat route and turn it into a 15-20-yard gain and make a few guys miss,” Travis explained. “The moment that I can’t do that, I think that’s when I’m going to be when I’m like, alright, what am I doing this for?”

Kelce is seemingly already preparing for his next career steps amid his much-publicized relationship with entertainment superstar Taylor Swift. The future Hall of Famer was revealed this spring as the host of Amazon’s “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?” show and he landed an acting role in the FX horror series “Grotesquerie.” According to Mike Hammer of Life & Style, Travis may also be interested in producing “a documentary-style movie” about his relationship with Swift.

With all of that said, Kelce indicated during the podcast episode he still enjoys serving as a dynamic offensive weapon for the reigning Super Bowl champions.

“I get excitement out of catching a ball, splitting a bunch of defenders and getting a huge first down when nobody expected me to do it,” Travis told Jason. “Or I scored a huge touchdown in a playoff game in the fourth quarter when the team needed it the most. The moment that I can’t do that, and I’m playing it at an average or a less of a successful level than I am right now, I think that’s when I’m probably going to call it quits.”

Kelce has dealt with numerous injury issues during his career, including the bone bruise/hyperextension in his knee that kept him from playing in Kansas City’s Week 1 game last September. As much as he’s looking to outrun Father Time, it sounds like he could admit as soon as February 2025 that he’s lost a battle that ultimately downs every professional athlete.