My last hurrah’: shock as Travis Kelce flirts with retirement

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has mentioned ‘the last time’ he will play against a certain opponent.

Travis Kelce is one of the Kansas City Chiefs‘ most important veterans, but his future remains uncertain beyond the 2024 NFL season.

The 35-year-old tight end, who has been a cornerstone of the team, acknowledges that his career may be nearing its conclusion. Notably, he recently played in Cleveland for just the second time during his 12-year professional career.

On the latest episode of his podcast, New Heights, the younger Kelce brother shared a reflective moment, hinting that last week’s victory over the Browns might have been his final game in Cleveland.

‘It felt like I was taking my last hurrah before retiring’

“It felt so surreal. I don’t know if it’s my last time playing in Cleveland, but it felt like I was taking my last hurrah before retiring, especially since I’ve only played there twice in 12 years,” Kelce said. “It was a special day for me, personally.”

Kelce has faced the Browns five times in his career—four times in the regular season and once in the playoffs—winning every matchup. However, only two of those games have taken place in his hometown of Westlake, Ohio. His first game there came during the 2018 season when the Chiefs secured a 37-21 victory. In that game, Kelce caught seven passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns.

When will Travis Kelce retire?

Kelce has enjoyed an impressive 12-year career, which is exceptional for an NFL tight end. According to a study by RBC Wealth Management, the average NFL player retires at age 27.6.

Tight ends who play beyond 10 seasons are rare, with notable examples including Marcedes Lewis (19 seasons), Jason Witten (17), Tony Gonzalez (17), Antonio Gates (16), Greg Olsen (14), Mark Bruener (14), and Jimmy Graham (13).

While Kelce may not match the career length of some of these legends, he has cemented his place among the greatest tight ends in NFL history. He currently ranks third in receiving yards for tight ends, with 12,037 yards—trailing only Gonzalez and Witten. To surpass Gonzalez’s record, Kelce would need approximately 3,000 more yards.

The University of Cincinnati graduate is under contract with the Chiefs through the 2025 season, thanks to a two-year, $34.25 million extension signed in April 2024. However, given his age and recent reflections, Kelce is likely to retire after the 2025 season, marking the end of an extraordinary career.

Full screen

Kelce has shocked the world of NFL by opening up on a possible retirement.NICK CAMMETTAFP

The next game for the Chiefs is against the Steelers and will be played on Wednesday December 25 at Acrisure Stadium with kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT.