A source close to Travis Kelce has revealed the factors that will decide whether or not he retires at the end of the season.
The Chiefs star is now in the final year of his two-year, $34.25 million deal in Kansas City and discussions over his potential retirement have been rife ever since their Super Bowl defeat in February.
The tight end previously teased the possibility of ending his career following the loss in New Orleans – however ended up sticking around for the 2025 season.
Now though, after proposing to girlfriend Taylor Swift during the summer, it’s growing increasingly likely that he calls time on his career at the end of this season.
A source close to Kelce has now confirmed that he ‘anticipates’ it could be the end – but revealed the factors that will impact the tight end’s decision.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the source said: ‘A handful of things have to happen – or have to not happen – that will ultimately make Travis make his final decision on playing any longer after this season. This should be the end.
Travis Kelce ‘anticipates’ that he will hang up his cleats at the end of the season
A source has revealed the different factors that will decide Kelce’s future in the NFL
It’s been a whirlwind year for the Chiefs star after proposing to Taylor Swift this summer
‘As Travis anticipates he will hang it up after this season, no matter how hard that decision will be, he has a lot to look forward to in TV and in life – and he has his brother and Taylor to thank for that.
‘His brother has been so busy on TV and, as sad as it was to leave the game, he figured it out and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And with Taylor, she is not forcing his hand in any way and wants him to make his own decision.
‘Taylor is not going to be the Gisele or Yoko of Travis and his career. And though the season didn’t start well with the Chiefs losing, going to the Super Bowl is the main goal.
‘If the Chiefs make it, win it, it will be a great swan song for Travis. If they fail to hit that trajectory, more thoughts will creep into his mind.
‘Kansas City would give him another contract, and the final answer will come about at the end of the season. He is leaning to leave, but it will be his choice.
‘Taylor and his brother are not forcing him into anything’.
Though he opted not to retire during the offseason, it was still an action-packed summer for the Chiefs star after his proposal to pop superstar girlfriend Swift.
The NFL icon broke the internet on August 27th when he got down on one knee, making the singer his fiancee two years into their whirlwind romance.
Kelce suffered a miserable return as the Chiefs lost to the Chargers on Friday night
The Chiefs tight end did score a touchdown later in the second half but it was in vain
Kelce’s fiancee, pop superstar Taylor Swift, opted not to travel to the game in Brazil
It was later confirmed that the couple kept their big news under wraps for weeks, with Kelce actually popping the question weeks prior, in a carefully planned proposal.
Their first public appearance together after sharing the news was at a college football game held at Kansas City Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium, where Kelce said it was special to be introducing Swift as his ‘fiancee’ for the first time.
Kelce explained: ‘Yeah I felt that at the game, it was the first time I introduced Taylor as my fiance to my teammates, it was pretty cool.
‘I still get giddy, it’s exciting times. It is still fresh. It has been so much fun hearing from everybody and seeing the internet go crazy.’
Similarly, last summer, Kelce barely gave himself a moment to breathe.
He followed Swift on her ‘Eras Tour’ and took jobs on the big and small screen – presenting ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity,’ appearing in ‘Grotesquerie’ and shooting his cameo in ‘Happy Gilmore 2.’
However, he later admitted that his focus wavered and he paid the price.
Though Kelce put more focus into his preparations during this summer – with many noting that he’d slimmed down – it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat in their opener.
Led by quarterback Justin Herbert, Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers held on to win 27-21 against the Chiefs at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.