Jason Kelce Addresses Travis' Retirement Speculation With Chiefs Out of Playoff Race

The Kansas City Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention, which means fans will soon find out whether star tight end Travis Kelce is going to retire or continue playing.

His brother, Jason, addressed the retirement speculation on SportsCenter on Monday, saying he's unsure of what his brother is thinking.

"In my opinion, to nail that decision, you gotta step away from the game for a little bit," Kelce said. "Play these last three games, enjoy them with your teammates, enjoy them with your coaches... And then let it sink in. It'll come to you with time. There are so many emotions with this game right after a season, especially with the way this one's been... Right now, it's just too fresh. You've gotta step away from it, you've gotta think about it and then it'll come to you."

Kelce is 36 and is in his 13th NFL season, so it wouldn't be surprising in the slightest to see him call it a career after the 2025 campaign. He also has plenty going on off the field these days too, which could expedite his timeline to retire.

Kelce and his brother have turned their podcast, New Heights, into one of the biggest sports podcasts in the world. Leaving football would give him the chance to pursue that endeavor even further. He could also follow in his brother's footsteps and enter the media world as an analyst.

The 10-time Pro Bowler has also delved into the film and television space, so retiring could give him the chance to pursue acting even further.

It's also worth noting that Kelce is reportedly set to marry pop star Taylor Swift in June. With his wedding coming up, he might just want to end his NFL career as he enters a new chapter in life.

But while Kelce has plenty of reasons to retire, he also has plenty of reasons to continue playing.

While he's not the All-Pro tight end he once was, he has had a solid season, recording 797 yards and five touchdowns through 14 games. He's also stayed injury-free for his entire career, so his body might be able to handle another year or so.

Ending the season on a better note might also serve as motivation for Kelce to continue his career. If he retires at the end of the year, it will mean his final game came in the regular season without Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a torn ACL on Sunday.

Kelce has plenty to think about in the coming months, and he has even more time to ponder his future now that Kansas City isn't going to the playoffs.