Everything Travis Kelce said about his NFL retirement

Kansas City Chiefs Star Travis Kelce He’s already secured his legacy as one of the greatest tight ends of all time, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to walk away from his NFL career.

“I know I’m 34, I’m going to be 35, but I love to do this here in the heat of June,” said Kelce facing the Chiefs’ minicamp on the same day as doing this. “

According to a study by RBC Wealce Management, the average retirement age for an NFL player is 27.6 years old, but Kelce added that he plans to continue playing football “until the wheels fall off.”

Travis’ brother, Jason KelceTwo years old, he set an example of a gracious exit when he retired from the Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the season. During the June 2024 episode “The Heights,” Jason offered his brother some retirement wisdom.

“That’s when you’ll start to know, whenever this comes, and you need to go,” Jason said. “[It’s] Fighting with your body, like you, was able to do something that you can’t do. That’s when it’s like you’re fighting that, to keep getting that. This is where it gets difficult. The bottom line is everyone knows when it’s their turn. “

Unlike Jason, Travis doesn’t have a family to put time into his retirement – Jason shares daughters Wyatt, Elliott and Bennett with wife Kylie Kelce – But you are in a relationship seen with them Taylor Swift. Travis and Swift announced their engagement in August 2025, and the couple’s romance is as strong as their careers.

“I love it when taylor comes and supports me and enjoys the game with Fam and friends,” Travis said during the January 2024 appearance The Pat McAfee Show.

Keep scrolling to see everything Kelce has to say about his retirement plans, or lack thereof:

April 2023

Travis said he “wasn’t thinking too much about” retiring during the bleacher report interview.

“I absolutely love what I do, I love doing it here in Kansas City,” he said. “I don’t even want to think about putting a time limit on this. My body still feels good, I still feel like I can help the Kansas City Chiefs win.”

In June 2023

At the Chiefs Minicamp, Travis reiterated his desire to continue playing football.

“I love this game,” he continued. “I know I’m going to miss it when I’m done playing. … I get to play the game for a living at 33, 34 and I think that’s the joy I had with the game when I was a kid.”

November 2023

The athlete admitted that the injury made him think about retirement “more than anyone would think” during an interview with him The Wall Street Journal.

“That’s the only thing I haven’t opened much,” he said. “The discomfort. The pain. The lingering injury – the 10 surgeries I’ve had I’ve had pain every single surgery until today.”

In January 2024

“I have no reason to stop playing football,” Travis told reporters at a news conference. He noted those opportunities as his March 2023 Saturday night live Hosting a gig had given him a glimpse of his future prospects, but he wasn’t ready to walk away from his first love.

“I was lucky enough to do a few things outside of the sports world that I enjoyed doing, like getting a camera,” he explained. “The It’s a breath of fresh air Stuffy It’s kind of a new joy and a new way of working for me, but it’s ridiculous of me to even come this far in my career because I think more down the road than on the road. “

In June 2024

During the press conference, Travis said he wasn’t planning on retiring “any time soon” and said he “can’t put a date on his exit” on his NFL exit.

“I’ll do it until the wheels fall off,” he said. “I can definitely understand that it’s down the road [more] than its beginning. I just make sure I’m set behind the ball. “

Travis added that he still finds great joy in his NFL career.

“I love coming to work every day,” she said. “Obviously, I know there are opportunities outside of football for me. I think you have to keep the impression that I’m a little kid when I get to this building.”

In January 2025

During the appearance on The Stephen A. Smith Show, Travis denied that he was ready to retire from Swift’s girlfriend.

“He totally inspires me to enjoy playing this game,” Travis said. “He loves coming to Arrowhead [Stadium] And to come to the games and make me happy, so I got all the support in the world to continue chasing these dreams. “

In February 2025

During Super Bowl Six on the night of February 3, Kelce was asked where he expects to be in 3 years.

“Hopefully he’s still playing football,” Kelce told reporters. “I love doing this. I love going to work every day. I feel like I still have a lot of good football left in me.”

He added, “We’ll see what happens. I know I’ve been planning for other opportunities in my life. That’s always been the goal, knowing that football lasts so long.”

In February 2025

After the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss to Philadelphia in Super Bowl Six, Kelce said of Somber, “we never played that season.”

Kelce didn’t address him in the future during brief comments to the fans.

When the Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes asked if he thought Kelce would return another season, he said, “I’ll let Travis make that decision on his own.”

Mahome added, “He’s given so much to this team and the NFL, and he’s been such a pleasure not only to work with him but [for] people to watch. “

In October 2025

Travis discussed his induced retirement during an interview with ESPN’s Monday night counting and his brother, Jason.

“Man, I’m going to be lucky to keep hanging out with these people year after year, man,” Travis said, “I’m taking it,” I’m just taking it to work with these people. “

November 2025

Travis shared a new update on where his head was when it came to his retirement plans, telling reporters in November that he would give more to the Kansas City Chiefs when the time came.

“You know, seeing my brother go through it and seeing … how the league works, the season kind of starts in April, and I want to give the Phiefs a good chance or not,” he said. “And the opposite, even if they want me, it’s one of those things where I like to make that decision before they get the draft curtains and free agency opens.”

He added, “I’d like to make that decision before they get the Draft Picks and free agency opens up to fill out the system accordingly … all that’s left to think about until then.