Chiefs' Travis Kelce offers puzzling retirement outlook ahead of season opener vs. Chargers

Hunter Cookston

Chiefs' Travis Kelce offers puzzling retirement outlook ahead of season opener vs. Chargers image

The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to return to the Super Bowl after getting blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles last February. This offseason has been an eventful one for the Chiefs, highlighted by tight end Travis Kelce’s engagement to Taylor Swift. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has even hinted that she could be the Super Bowl halftime performer.

“We would always love to have Taylor play," Goodell said. "She is a special, special talent and obviously, she would be welcome at any time."

Another topic surrounding Kelce is when he plans to retire. There have been signs that his retirement could be approaching, but the exact timeline remains uncertain. If this is his final season, the organization hopes to send him off in the best way possible.

“Hopefully he'll go out a champion," Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said at the NFL Combine. "Hopefully, he has a magical season to end a magical career."

NFL insider Mike Florio has stated that if the Chiefs had won last season, Kelce likely would have retired.

“While the word 'retire' or 'retirement' doesn’t appear anywhere in the lengthy article, it continues to feel likely that Kelce would have walked away if the Chiefs had completed the first ever Super Bowl three-peat. Given the way he discussed his future in the aftermath of the game, it felt like he still could,” Florio wrote.

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Ahead of the season opener against the Chargers, Kelce was once again asked whether this would be his final season. His answer left the door open.

“It’s the last one of the contract right now, but I’ll tell you what, I’m feeling young and I’m feeling ready to rock, baby,” Kelce told the media.

Kelce is entering the season with an open mind. He sees no need to put a timestamp on his career—when the time is right, he’ll know. In true Kelce fashion, he’s left millions wondering if this season will be his last.

Hunter Cookston

Hunter Cookston began his career as a sportswriter for the Marion Tribune, where he covered local high school football, basketball and baseball. His passion for sports started at the age of four when he played his first year of tee ball. Growing up in Tennessee, he developed a deep love for the Tennessee Volunteers and Atlanta Braves. Hunter is currently attending Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he is pursuing a BA in Sports Communications/Management.