The playing future of Travis Kelce, a prominent figure in the NFL, has emerged as a key offseason narrative, at least for the upcoming month. According to a report from The Athletic, the Kansas City Chiefs have presented the future Hall of Fame tight end with a deadline of March 14 to determine whether he will be taking to the field in the next season.
Kelce, set to reach 36 years of age this year, currently has one year left on his contract. However, a significant $12.5 million roster bonus is slated for March 15, as per Spotrac. With the Chiefs presently having a salary cap space projection of $5.38 million for 2025, positioning them 23rd out of the 32 NFL teams, the team will need to orchestrate some strategic moves to create more financial flexibility ahead of the commencement of NFL free agency on March 10.
The seasoned pro, who completed his 12th year in the league, delivered a solid performance for Kansas City during the previous season, amassing 97 receptions. Nonetheless, his 823 receiving yards, 8.5 yards per catch, and three touchdowns marked the lowest statistics in his career. In the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce managed four receptions (on six targets) for 39 yards.
The extension of tight end Noah Gray’s contract by Kansas City to a three-year, $18 million deal prior to the last season seemed to signal that the team was preparing for a future without Kelce.
During an episode of his “New Heights” podcast alongside his brother Jason Kelce, Travis expressed his intention to take some time before arriving at a decision regarding his participation in the upcoming season.
In his own words, Kelce shared, “I know everybody wants to know whether or not I’m playing next year and right now I’m just kicking everything down the road. I’m kicking every can I can down the road. I am not making any crazy decisions, but right now the biggest thing is just being there for my teammates and being there for my coaches understanding that there’s a lot that goes into this thing.”
He went on to elaborate on the physical toll that the extended playoff runs, including three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, have taken on his body over the years. The demanding physical and mental recovery process associated with these intense playoff journeys has led him to contemplate retirement.
Kelce reflected, “The fact that we keep going to these AFC championships and Super Bowls, that means I’m playing an extra three games more than everybody else in the entire league. That’s a lot of wear and tear on your body. It’s a lot of time spent in the building. That process can be grueling. It can weigh on you. It can make you better and it can drive you crazy at the same time.”
However, the latest development suggests
