For Travis Kelce and the remainder of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the Tremendous Bowl did not finish how they’d hoped.
After crusing via latest NFL seasons almost undefeated — and 5 Tremendous Bowl attendances in 5 years, three of which they gained, although not consecutively — the Chiefs had a surprisingly lackluster efficiency finally night time’s sport.
Not solely did they fail to realize the historic three-peat, which no different NFL workforce has ever carried out, however for many of the sport, which concluded in 40-22, they sat at 0 factors.
Within the wake of the devastating defeat, many have questioned what it means for Travis, who’s 35 years previous and in his twelfth season, and if it may need been his final Tremendous Bowl, perhaps even his final sport.
Technically, simply final yr the beloved tight-end renewed his contract for 2 years, for a whopping $34.25 million — a $17.125 million yearly common — which made him the highest-paid tight finish in all the NFL.
He has at all times for probably the most half dismissed questions on his retirement. Again in June 2024, after signing his new contract, he stated forward of a minicamp session that he would not be retiring “anytime quickly” and that he could be enjoying soccer “till the wheels fall off.”
© Getty PhotosDecember 2024 was one of many first and few occasions he loosely broached the subject of retirement — after a considerably lower than stellar season — when he spoke together with his brother Jason Kelce, who retired in 2023, a few sport he performed in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, towards the Browns.
“It felt so surreal. I do not know if it is the final time I am going to ever play in Cleveland, but it surely kinda felt like I used to be simply giving it one final hurrah earlier than I am carried out as a result of I’ve solely performed there twice in 12 years.”
© Getty PhotosNonetheless, just some days earlier than the Tremendous Bowl, requested throughout a presser what he thinks he’ll be doing in three years, it did not sound like retirement was in his plans. “Hopefully nonetheless enjoying soccer. I really like doing this, I really like coming into work daily. I really feel like I nonetheless have loads of good soccer left in me. We’ll see what occurs,” he maintained.
© Getty PhotosHis teammate Patrick Mahomes has additionally weighed in on Travis’ retirement, although vaguely. Simply after their Tremendous Bowl loss, requested if Travis will likely be coming again subsequent season, he stated he would “let Travis make that call on his personal,” and famous: “He is given a lot to this workforce and to the NFL, and been such a pleasure not just for me to work with however [for] folks to observe.”
© Getty PhotosReferring to the forthcoming off season time, he added: “He’ll get to spend a while together with his household and make that call on his personal, however he is aware of he’ll come again right here with open arms.”
Travis has additionally already spoken out in regards to the Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl loss, telling reporters shortly afterwards that they “have not performed that dangerous all yr” and that the workforce “simply could not discover that spark, could not discover that momentum.”
