For most of the season, the general thought was that Travis Kelce would retire whenever the Kansas City Chiefs' 2025 campaign came to an end.
But then this season actually happened, and it's been a nightmare for the Chiefs, who are 6-8, officially eliminated from the playoffs and now reeling from Patrick Mahomes' torn ACL suffered Sunday.
The struggles might actually change Kelce's plans, according to The Daily Mail.
"Travis Kelce does not want to go out on the back of the Kansas City Chiefs failing to make the playoffs and intends to return for another year, an insider has told Daily Mail," wrote Russ Weakland in a new article.
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Here's more from Weakland, attributed to a source:
"For the Chiefs, Travis and Patrick [Mahomes], it is Super Bowl or bust, and they are now living in their bust era. With Patrick getting injured, the team not going to the playoffs this year and the struggles Travis has had this season, what was once something Travis was thinking about is starting to change. [Kelce] was heavily considering retirement, and that was when he had other expectations for this season. But how it has all turned out, he doesn't want to go out this way. The next few weeks are going to be what they are going to be, but Travis is now heavily considering going through the offseason with the same mindset in training and to do at least one more season. Give it one last run. He wants to have one more ride with Patrick, wants to end it on his terms and not the nightmare that this season has turned out to be."
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It's certainly going to be a confusing time with lots of dueling speculation.
Earlier on Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter said he wouldn't be surprised if Kelce does retire.
His brother, Jason, said during ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast that "you gotta step away from the game a little bit" to "nail" the decision, because otherwise "it's too fresh."
Basically: No one really knows. Travis probably doesn't even know yet.
All he knows for sure is that the season will be done when the regular season ends with Week 18, and he's getting married on June 13. Other than that, the future has plenty to be determined.
More NFL news:
- Jaxson Dart has a 50% head injury problem
- Trevor Lawrence had a game never before done by an NFL quarterback
- A Travis Kelce retirement hint is coming
- Micah Parsons' injury doesn't look good
- Patrick Mahomes' injury has fans asking Tom Brady ACL question
- Commanders' All-Pro puts down fans' draft order concerns