Travis Kelce has reached a crossroads – one that his brother, Jason, and many NFL greats before him have faced.
At 35, the aging Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end has endless opportunities waiting for him, from network television to Hollywood and beyond.
But after what unfolded in Super Bowl LIX, the question remains: does he still want to keep playing? … And based on his shockingly lifeless performance, just how much does he have left in the tank???
Before the game, First Things First host and Chiefs superfan Nick Wright boldly predicted that Kelce would retire – on the assumption that Kansas City would make history as the first team to three-peat.
But after the humbling 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the trajectory of Kelce’s future may look a lot different than expected.
If Kelce decides to return, he’ll have to come to terms with a harsh reality – one that former NFL safety and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark laid out on NFL Live.
“Isn’t Trav sort of in the same place [as] our colleague and friend, his brother, Jason Kelce, was in last year?” Clark began. “Still feeling like you can still do it and you still have it, but you know you don’t have it like you used to.
“And it’s gonna be based on whether or not Travis Kelce understands he’s a diminished player and is comfortable with that.
“When you’re at the highest of highs, when you’re the best pass-catching tight end in the history of the National Football League, it’s hard to go into a game last night, have two drops, not have any impactful catches or impact on the game.
“Can Travis Kelce go forward in 2025 and be that person? Especially when so many lucrative opportunities await him in his second career.”
Clark said that Kelce has “earned the right to take his time” in deciding whether or not he wants to keep playing.
However, this isn’t just about whether he can still play physically = it’s about whether he’s willing to be something less than the dominant force he once was.
The NFL doesn’t offer graceful exits, even for legends and sure-fire Hall of Famers … It forces them to choose between reinvention and retirement.
And after Sunday night’s disappointment, that choice might be coming sooner than Kelce ever expected.
What are your thoughts on Kelce’s situation? … Just how much does he have left in the tank and should Chiefs fans be confident that he can stay focused and motivated going forward?
While we’re on the subject, are you one of the many who believe that Kelce was planning to propose to Taylor Swift had the Chiefs won on Sunday???
