NEED TO KNOW
Travis Kelce gave a coy response when he was asked if the upcoming NFL season will be his last
The tight end said it’s the “last one on the contract” and said he’s “focused on this one”
Kelce explained he doesn’t yet know if he’ll want to retire at the end of next season
This upcoming NFL season may be the last for Travis Kelce — maybe.
The 35-year-old Kansas City Chiefs star played coy during an appearance on the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast on July 1 when he was asked if the 2025 season will be his final one in the league. “I mean…it’s the last one on the contract,” Kelce said. “I’m focused on this one, man.”
The tight end added that he’ll need to see how he feels at the time. “I don’t know what next year’s going to feel like, I don’t know what I’m going to feel like in March or April next year,” he explained.
What he does know is he’s got “one on the contract and a hell of a f—ing team” with the Chiefs, including superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who Kelce said is “family” to him now.
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Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce on Dec. 17, 2023
When the hosts asked Kelce if he would have been more likely to retire if the Chiefs had won the Super Bowl against the Eagles in February, he said it was possible he would have felt differently about the decision. “I just had a sour taste in my mouth, immediately,” Kelce shared.
Beyond the “sour taste” from a disappointing showing in the Super Bowl, Kelce said he also made the decision to return because he has more football left to play.
“I still feel like I can do it and I, kind of, wanted to give myself that full focus, I wanna give it my all and make sure I do this for the childhood dream in me, the kid in me,” said Kelce, who confirmed his return to the NFL via text message to Pat McAfee on Feb. 27.
McAfee read the message from Kelce aloud on his show, telling viewers he’s “coming back for sure” for another season with the Chiefs.
“Gonna try and get to the best shape I’ve been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop,” Kelce said. “Got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and how I got the guys ready for battle. I can’t go out like that!!!!”
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Travis Kelce on Sept. 4, 2024 in Kansas City, MO
Currently, Kelce is enjoying some downtime with girlfriend Taylor Swift before the season starts. Swift, 35, accompanied Kelce to Florida for his summer training and also joined him at the Tight End University camp in Nashville last month.
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A source told PEOPLE exclusively that Swift is “really looking forward to the upcoming NFL season” this year. “Not just because she loves supporting Travis, but because for the first full season since they started dating, she’s not juggling a packed tour schedule,” the source said.
“This fall will be completely different,” the insider added. “It’s the first season where she’s not constantly flying back and forth or working around an entire touring calendar.”
Read the original article on People
