Travis Kelce: Ready to Hang Up His Cleats?

Travis Kelce has made a name for himself in the NFL. He has three Super Bowl rings and is considered one of the greatest tight ends in the game. He has accomplished a lot in his career, including becoming a media mogul with a nine-figure podcast, acting roles, and hosting a game show. He even hosted SNL and did a fantastic job. At 35, he has played an extra 19 games since 2018, which is a lot for someone his age. The NFL season is long and demanding, both physically and mentally. It's normal for players to slow down as they get older, and Kelce is no exception. He has had an extraordinary career, but every player wants to leave the game on their own terms. Kelce has already started his post-football career with a media empire. He seems to be coming to terms with the idea of retiring. He has been thinking about it and processing the reality of hanging up his helmet. He seems to be leaning towards retiring, but he is taking his time to make sure he is making the right decision. Every player who has the chance to leave the game on their own terms wonders if they could have played another season. Kelce's comments from the New Heights podcast suggest that he is coming to terms with the idea of retiring. It will be a surprise if he decides to play another season. He is ready to close the book on playing football and open the door to everything else that awaits him. Kelce's career has been nothing short of remarkable. He was a third-round pick who was once suspended for an entire season at the University of Cincinnati for smoking marijuana. He has since become one of the best tight ends in NFL history, with 1, 004 receptions for 12, 151 yards and 79 total touchdowns. He has also established a media empire, from a nine-figure podcast to acting to producing to hosting a game show. He hosted SNL, and he nailed it. At 35, he’s well beyond the normal shelf life for his position. Since 2018, he has played an extra 19 games. In the past three years, the Chiefs have played a total of 58 games. The seasons are long. The offseasons are short. It’s a massive physical and mental commitment. The decline is coming, if it hasn’t already begun. Lawrence Taylor once realized the young players around him seemed faster than ever. Bill Parcells told Taylor that’s because he was finally getting slower. It happens. It’s normal. For Kelce, the performances and the longevity are abnormal. And extraordinary. No great player wants to hang around for the decline. No one wants the final chapter to undermine the rest of the book. Chuck Noll referred to a player’s post-football career as his “life’s work. ” Kelce has already embarked on something special for his own life’s work, while still grinding as a player. For now, it seems as if he’s coming to terms with it. That he’s giving himself a little time to ensure that his instincts are accurate. That he’s processing the reality that, once the helmet is off, it’s never going back on — unless and until he plays a football player in a big-budget film. Regardless, he seems to be leaning against giving it another go. Every player who earns the ability to leave on his own terms (and there aren’t many who do) always wonders whether he could have squeezed another season out of his God-given skills. No player wants to find out the hard way that he couldn’t. Kelce’s comments from the New Heights podcast create the impression that he’s coming to terms with his gut feeling that it’s time. In time, it will be a surprise if he does anything other than close the book on playing, while opening the door on everything else that awaits. He has a lot of options and opportunities ahead of him. He has already started his post-football career with a media empire. He is ready to close the book on playing football and open the door to everything else that awaits him.