Travis Kelce Is Reportedly Not Retiring, and Some Fans Worry His ‘Hubris’ Will Be a Problem
At the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season, many people expected Travis Kelce to announce he was retiring. Kelce, at 36, is approaching retirement, but his latest season likely did not end as he hoped. While he has not definitively commented on his plans for the future, sources now report that he will delay his retirement for at least one more season. Fans aren’t sure what to make of this.
Travis Kelce is reportedly not retiring after a period of speculation
Kelce has played with the Kansas City Chiefs for over a decade. In recent years, fans have wondered when he will retire from the team. For the upcoming season, the Chiefs have prepared for either option.
“I think we’ve kind of taken a different approach with Travis in the sense that we’ve prepared for either scenario,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said, per AP. “Coach [Andy Reid] had mentioned on Friday he’s had great dialogue with Travis. On our end, myself, [assistant general manager] Chris Shea and Travis’ crew, we’ve had some good dialogue there.”
The team doesn’t want to see him go, though.
“Travis is the best, he’s an icon and hopefully he comes back and we’ll just let that process play out,” Veach said.
At this point, Kelce and the Chiefs are reportedly approaching a deal that would bring him back for another season.
Fans have reacted to news that Travis Kelce isn’t retiring
The 2025 season was Kelce’s last under his contract with the Chiefs. This led many to believe he would retire after what would, ideally, be a victorious season. Unfortunately, things didn’t go Kansas City’s way. The team didn’t make the playoffs for the first time since 2014. As a result, some think Kelce will feel driven to end on a higher note. Other fans don’t think this is a good idea.
“They’ll lose again,” wrote one Reddit user. “His hubris is going to take the team down.”
Others think he has had a good career and should retire on good terms.
“Please just go away,” wrote one person. “Great career. Take your wife to be and go away. Also take your brother. Enough. Leave with a little dignity.”
Some noted that the Chiefs’ recent loss was possibly driving Kelce’s decision, and they didn’t approve,
“That’s an ego decision,” wrote another person. “Not an intelligence based decision.”
Though there has been some blowback, others are looking forward to seeing Kelce play another season.
“Well he played so well last season so why not,” asked one person.
Another person added that they aren’t surprised Kelce wants another chance at a Super Bowl ring.
“Not surprised after that disaster of a season,” one person wrote. “Patrick [Mahomes] is out on the mend and they want their ‘3 peat.’”
What has he said about ending his career?
At the start of 2025, Kelce admitted retirement was not an easy decision for him.
“There’s a lot of love for the game that’s still there and I don’t think I’ll ever lose that,” he said on his New Heights podcast. “It’s a tough thing to navigate, but at the same time, if my body can heal up and rest up, and I can feel confident that I can go out there and give it another 18, 20, 21-week run, I think I would do it in a heartbeat.”
He added that his decision will come down to his physical preparedness.
“I think right now, it’s just finding that answer and seeing how the body feels after this game and kinda when it all settles down,” he said.
If Kelce returns, he will play his 14th season with the Chiefs.
