Travis Kelce has always been a polarizing player – even long before the whole Taylor Swift romance.
Of course, the whole Swift thing has taken the Kelce-hate to an unprecedented level. But that’s to be expected to a degree.
Having said that, Kelce still has legions of fans and is one of the most popular players in the entire league.
(It also helps that he plays for the back-to-back Super Bowl champs and is one of the greatest tight ends of all-time.)
But at 34-years-old, soon to be 35, the question has begun to be raised: just how much longer does he plan on playing???
Kelce answered that exact question during a recent appearance on the ultra-popular “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast.
He discussed his NFL future, confirming his intent to play for at least two more seasons, at which point he will reassess his career.
“I’m at least doing (two years), then we’ll see what the future holds,” Kelce said.
“I know there are other opportunities off the field for me. I think that was something (brother) Jason was really comfortable with, juggling whether he was going to come back.
“It’s just a situation, I said it the other day, I love coming into work. I have so much fun. I still got the fire to keep getting better, I still got the fire to go out there and do that every single day.
“I can’t really put a number on it, I just know I have two more years on my contract, and we’ll see what happens after that.”
Previously, on his “New Heights” podcast, Kelce mentioned that he would retire once his performance dipped to an average level.
Currently, however, he remains an elite tight end and is more than capable of dominating any game he plays in. (Even the harshest Kelce critic can’t deny that.)
“I love playing at a level where I know I can have a bunch of success,” Kelce explained.
“I know I can go out there and catch a flat route and turn it into a 15-20-yard gain and make a few guys miss. The moment that I can’t do that, I think that’s when I’m going to be like, alright, what am I doing this for?
“I get excitement out of catching a ball, splitting a bunch of defenders and getting a huge first down when nobody expected me to do it,” Kelce continued.
“Or scoring a huge touchdown in a playoff game in the fourth quarter when the team needed it the most.
“The moment that I can’t do that, and I’m playing at an average or less successful level than I am right now, I think that’s when I’m probably going to call it quits.”
Whenever Kelce decides to retire, his path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame seems absolutely assured.
As mentioned, he has and will continue to have unlimited opportunities off-the-field which could cause him to hang up the cleats earlier than expected.
Speaking of which, the Kelce brothers raved about their recent trip to London where they attended Swift’s concerts and met the Royal Family.
“They informed us that since this wasn’t an official royal event, there was no need to bow or curtsy,” Jason shared on the New Heights podcast.
“But I still addressed him as ‘Your Royal Highness.’ I’ve never felt emasculated. That was the closest I’ve ever been.”
Travis was equally enthusiastic, saying, “(Prince William) was so cool! We met backstage because he was there with little George and Charlotte, who were an absolute delight.”
Prince William and his children were among several notable figures at Swift’s Wembley Stadium concerts.
Other celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Paul McCartney, Hugh Grant, Greta Gerwig, and Ashton Kutcher were also in attendance.
Drafted in the third-round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Kelce has been a constant force for the Chiefs throughout his ten seasons in Kansas City.
For his career, Kelce’s hauled in 907 receptions for 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns.
He and quarterback Patrick Mahomes will try to lead the Chiefs to a historic three-peat this coming season.
What are your thoughts on Kelce’s comments?
How many more years do you think he’ll end up playing?
What side of the fence do you reside on when it comes to his relationship with Swift? … Are you sick of it by now?
Will he go down as the greatest tight end in NFL history? … Or do you still put Rob Gronkowski and/or Tony Gonzalez ahead of him?
Most importantly, do you think the Chiefs will actually three-peat this season???