Travis Kelce is facing one of the biggest decisions of his career — whether to retire from the NFL or return for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have given Kelce a deadline of March 14 to make his decision.
Kelce, 35, has already built an impressive legacy, winning three Super Bowls and forming one of the most elite duos in league history alongside Patrick Mahomes. But with his 36th birthday approaching in 2025, the physical and emotional demands of the game are weighing on him.
Travis Kelce Weighing Retirement as Chiefs’ ‘Soft Deadline’ Approaches
Kelce’s career accomplishments have already cemented his place in Canton, Ohio, where a future Hall of Fame induction seems inevitable. His older brother, Jason Kelce, retired in 2024 at age 36, and Travis may be considering following in his footsteps.
Beyond football, Kelce has built a lucrative personal brand, reportedly worth $90 million — a figure dwarfed by his girlfriend Taylor Swift, whose net worth is estimated at $1.6 billion.
Former NFL receiver Chad Johnson weighed in on Kelce’s NFL future during an appearance on “Nightcap” with Shannon Sharpe, claiming that finances won’t be an issue for the star tight end.
Johnson believes that Kelce will return for one more season, arguing that the Chiefs tight end may even be open to taking a paycut given the amount of money he (and Swift) and earning away from football.
“He’s making so much money off of the field, he’s not going to have a problem doing that,” Johnson said about the possibility of Kelce playing on a team-friendly deal. “He’s going to make up whatever he doesn’t get off of the field because he has so much going on. Trust me, he’s good. He’s dating a billionaire.”
Retirement or one more run?
The Chiefs’ March 14 deadline is significant — not only does it mark the early days of NFL free agency, but it also comes one day before Kelce’s $11.5 million roster bonus kicks in on March 15. If Kelce retires, it would clear cap space for Kansas City as they look to reload for another Super Bowl run.
For now, Kelce remains undecided, he’s going to have to think on what’s best for himself both on and off the field.
“I think I can play. It’s just whether or not I’m motivated or it’s the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility,” Kelce said on his “New Heights” podcast. “I’m gonna take some time to figure it out.
“I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, that it’s gonna be a wholehearted decision, and I’m not half-assing it, and I’m fully here for them.”
Regardless of his decision, Kelce isn’t disappearing from the spotlight anytime soon.
His popular “New Heights” podcast with his brother Jason will continue, giving him a voice in sports. And his relationship with Swift has turned him into an A-list celebrity who transcends sports.