Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce dispelled retirement rumors Thursday.
“I have no reason to stop playing football, man,” he said, via The Athletic’s Nate Taylor. “I love it, we still have success, and I come in with the right mindset. I just love the challenge it gives me every single day to try to be at my best. I have no desire to stop anytime soon.”
This contradicts previous comments. In November, Kelce told the Wall Street Journal the game takes an immense physical toll and that he thinks about retirement “more than anyone could ever imagine.”
“That’s the only thing I’ve never really been open about, the discomfort. The pain,” Kelce said. “The lingering injuries — the 10 surgeries I’ve had that I still feel every single surgery to this day.”
Perhaps he changed his mind and wants to win more Super Bowls. Kelce is still one of the best TEs in the league, but his numbers have dipped. In 15 games, he recorded 93 receptions for 984 yards and five TDs. In 2022, he had a career-high 110 receptions for 1,338 yards and 12 TDs.
MAHOMES TO KELCE IS BACK 🔥
📺: #KCvsJAX on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/SGjRJfmtZH— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
Aside from Kelce and rookie WR Rashee Rice, the Chiefs lack dependable pass-catchers. Per Pro Football Reference, Kansas City finished with the most drops (44) in the regular season. Superstar QB Patrick Mahomes threw 27 TD passes in 16 games, the second-lowest mark of his career.
To become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the 2004 New England Patriots, the Chiefs will need the star TE to kick it up a notch. They host the Miami Dolphins in Saturday night’s wild-card matchup. As of Thursday, FanDuel lists them as a 4.5-point favorite.
