Sentimentality? You ****ing serious?

Probably time to ask Mahomes to take a pay cut as well that was a rough Super Bowl

This was Travis the whole night.

Walked through plays. Whiffed blocks. Dropped passes.

Literally did not give a shit. Not a shit.

We are so conservative with the cap compared to a lot of our top competitors. The cap charge isn’t going to kill us. And he’s right to call out that the attention and money Taylor swift brings to the team that go beyond just pure salary cap. That is a huge revenue stream to lose.

Do you think the current version of Kelce is worth a $20 million cap hit?

Take sentimentality out of the equation and look at his age/production.

97 catches

47 first downs (3 less than 2023)

if he comes back in shape, absolutely

no. not 20 mil no

He had 97 catches last year. Had they won the SB, that would have arguably gone down as the greatest season EVER. He was the #1 receiver on that team.

Listen, I understand the Super Bowl was a shit show. Some of you are so incredibly reactionary though. Never as bad or as good as it seems.

You dont think Trav holds any value as a team leader? The dude is a freaking living and breathing LEGEND. Im sure that holds zero weight in that locker room, right?

Nevermind the fact we may have very well been upset in the divisional round against the Texans had Kelce not freaking shown out. No commentary there at all? What would a loss in the divisional round against the Texans have meant? That is an ENORMOUS stain on that dynasty. Would we have won that game without Travis? The answer there is no.

He was yawning big time on the sideline bench before the game.

No of course not.

However we will miss out on a huge huge revenue stream. That revenue can go towards better facilities, scouts and staff, analytics, coaches, hospitality and perks. And from a player standpoint gives players big market marketability. And from a salary cap standpoint it gives us cash on hand to make some more aggressive cap moves.

The entire point is moot anyhow. If Travis returns, and he knows this is his last year, Im sure he will work with the front office to try and clear some cap space for 2025 without taking $ out of his pockets.

nitpicking a couple of low effort plays is really unfair, btw

you don't know what happened on the previous 2 or 3 plays

maybe he just got done running 40 yards across the field

I think this offseason will be better for Travis (more restful) as Taylor isn’t on tour. He was traveling all over the world. This offseason he can actually relax and not be on a private jet every 37 seconds.

Im sure to all the haters on here as well 0% chance Kelce had a bit of a down year and maybe even perhaps dealt with some kind of injury the general public was unaware of? No chance the greatest to ever do it has a bit of a resurgence next year knowing it is likely his last go round? No chance of that right?

If a motivated Travis Kelce (knowing it is likely his last year) wants to run it back one last time you are G damn right I want him back at whatever price point!

He had a down year because he’s 35 years old.

You are expecting a resurgent year when he’ll be 36 years old in October? LMAO

Tony Gonzalez at 34 years old went for 70 receptions and 656 yards. He went on to have better statistical years at ages 35 and 36 years old including 93 receptions for 930 yards at 36 years old.

Yeah I think entirely possible Travis could work on his body in the offseason and have a better year in 2025. If he comes back for one more year, he is coming back to be great. If the fire is gone he will retire.

Still no commentary how he saved our asses in the divisional round this year? Just gonna act like that game didnt happen?

Yeah, honestly a lot of this thread can be moved into the “Traitors” thread. Kelce has busted his ass for years and delivered more for this franchise and fan base than anyone could have imagined. Now people want to crush him because he played like shit in a game where pretty much everyone on the offensive side of the ball did as well. Kelce can come back next year and take a ****ing nap on the field for all I care. He’s earned it.

he's coming back

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After a few days to process it, Travis reflected on Super Bowl LIX<br><br>Our Super Bowl recap episode premieres at 9:30am ET <a href="https://t.co/dxhcSlvWS1">pic.twitter.com/dxhcSlvWS1</a></p>&mdash; New Heights (@newheightshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/newheightshow/status/1889566723277308052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tony G's game was based on size and strength and boxing out. Kelce's always relied more on speed and elusiveness--traits that might stick around as long.

That tape is pretty alarming. We always run WR screens and rub routes, jet sweeps. Trickery is our thing. By running so many deep routes with our bad OL we made their job easy with that stacked secondary. Dudes we're good to start they didn't even have to think.

I think Andy thought they expect all the short stuff so the whole game plan was to burn them deep. Man that's brutal. I can't watch it.

I am glad he is coming back

I am quite sure he catches 80 balls next season

What replacement TE is going to replicate that level of performance?

He is also the smartest guy on the field and is a weapon when you give him time to find his spots. A skill set that is harder to be useful when the qb has to lock on to the first read and you have 7 guys sitting back in coverage.

I think the first play was a chip by design and Patrick was overwhelmed with the rush… Not sure about the run play but that dline was throwing everything off… Don’t think Travis would give half ass effort in the SB… Looks like that video is by someone who doesn’t like Travis anyway….

I just listened to the actual podcast, and I came away feeling like it’s more likely he does retire…

Hopefully Worthy/Rice become the primary targets in the passing game next season and take away some of those receptions from Kelce.

Because Kelce’s yards per catch were a career low this year.

The Chiefs offense is not going to get back to being explosive with 5 yard passes to Kelce where he is tackled immediately with no YAC.

Good, hopefully he doesn’t drag it out.

Either way, I’m sure Veach and Co already know his plans. Trav isn’t going to put them in a tough situation by holding his decision.

We’ll know closer to the combine.

None.

Agreed. Need a younger person in his role.

It does kind of depend. Even if he’s older he still does draw a lot of doubles. Even with rashee. So we do force a choice between defending rashee or kelce. Rice coming back changes our whole dynamic. I think that was a big factor in a healthy kelce having an all world playoff performance last year. And I still think it can’t be understated how dangerous kelce still is in scramble drill.

But yes we need to be cutting down on both his reps and his targets. He’s not nearly the catch and run target he once was. And we’ve gotta cut down on wear and tear.

Dynasties in the salary cap era are kept alive by making cut throat business decisions.

Kelce at 36 years old next season with a declining level of play is not worth a $20 million cap hit.

His yards per catch average was by far a career low this past season… that is not going to get better as he becomes a year older.

It would definitely create a need for some major adjustments if he retires, but it is something that probably needs to happen now even if he stays. The difference would be he would be saving us a chunk of money if he decides to step away. He has a full life, I'm sure he would miss it, but he sure looked like his feet were in cement more than a few times this past year.

Not spending $20m on a guy who nets the franchise $330m doesn’t seem like a wise business decision. Yes that does not necessarily go into the salary cap. But clark hunt is a good owner unafraid to invest in his team. Knowing you have one more year left of the windfall, go out and grab a haul of great players with guaranteed money we may typically be reluctant to put into escrow. Pump money into facilities since we got poor grades last year. Beef up our scouts and analytics. If we’re talking about forcing albert pujols into the lineup just because of the paycheck that’s one thing. But I think most of us agree that kelce still has value on the field even if it’s not the $20m we’re used to

This is a unicorn here in terms of the unique financial value he single handedly brings to this team. Milk it for all that it’s worth.

If He thinks like that, he's being an asshole. He should want the fans to have the best team he can get. That no longer includes Kelce.

Not surprising to hear what he said on the podcast, he's looked and played like someone who is done with the NFL grind. Don't think his heart is in it anymore like it once was, but I suppose there's always a chance he'll get re-charged a few months down the road.

That’s bs. Kelce still is a great asset as long as we put him in a role more appropriate for his age and regressed ability.

But all those things I mentioned before are all value you can bring to the team. It can help us get players we may not otherwise get. Having the box office appeal allows us to compete with big markets for free agents interested in sponsorships and endorsements. There are plenty of ways to extract lots and lots and value for the team, not just the Hunts.

It sounded to me eerily similar to what Jason said before announcing he wanted to do it one more time. The more telling comment to me was Travis saying he won’t see some of these guys as much… because they are free agents and may go to another team.

There’s a very big difference between preparing for another week. And preparing for the week relishing each moment that will be your last. I imagine that is what Jason will tell him to do.

Yeah this sounds like retirement to me. He’s mentally done.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The full comments from Travis Kelce on his &quot;New Heights&quot; podcast: <a href="https://t.co/gVfACptf41">pic.twitter.com/gVfACptf41</a></p>&mdash; Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) <a href="https://twitter.com/HaroldRKuntz3/status/1889675817317212533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

he’s already accomplished everything you could possibly ever want to accomplish at the TE position and has been dealing with NFL wear on his body for over a decade. Now is the time to step away. Sucks that SB59 would be his last NFL game but I’d say the rest of what he’s done for us outweighs that performance, lol.

The 20M of cap opening up would help us amazingly as well

Definitely does sound like he's leaning towards being done. As long as he figures it out before free agency starts I'm good either way. That cap room would help, but damn, it's not gonna be the same without Kelce.

Make no mistake, it's the leadership and intangible value we will miss the most from Kelce based on 2024.

We can't replace that stuff. Sucks to lose, he kept guys focused many times IMO.

Then he needs to go to the sideline and catch his breath. He needs to act like he lives in reality. He is old and slow for a football player. Not his fault, no one beats aging. But, he needs to live in reality. Your snaps need to come down. You are hurting the team playing your "normal" number of snaps. Focus on fewer snaps to help the team.

I'm sure 90% of us on here have Kelce in out favorite players of all time. But, we have eyes. No one beats aging. Not even the greatest TE ever.

It would be pretty disheartening if he went out like that, though.

To fall flat on your face in the biggest game in all of sports wouldn’t sit well with me.

Like, nah. We gotta run that shit back.

His brother did it...

I get it either way. Hope he comes back, won't be upset much either way.

He will play one more year. With limited action. He is not going out with that performance.

Anyone see that meme playing going around where kelce gave -0 effort while mahomes scrambled?

The African Sacred Ibis was worshiped by Egyptians. It waded in de Nile river

His brother also played a more grueling role, 12 years in the trenches is no joke.

Yeah, he gone.

If he comes back it'd be great to give him a proper send off.

If he retires, the 17 million it saves us will go along way to building the roster for next season.

I think he realizes he can not just show up at training camp and get in shape. Maybe he could in his younger days but not in his mid 30's. So if he is in, he starts working out....i personally see him wanting to do to much other things. I do not see him back.

It's not coming back, man.

He's just gassed. And I feel like he kinda knows it. The needle is on E at this point and what we saw from him this season is probably the best he has, no matter how hard he works this off-season.

And these seasons are so long. He played ANOTHER 19 game season. And if the 'run back' is successful, he'll play 19-20 again next season. Why would we expect that he's going to have something left if we make a SB again next year?

He's just spent. It's partially physical but it's mental as well.

I think he's gone. And I think that's okay.

Brady, Ben, Marino and his brother did. The list is long. Just wasn't the SB.

Brady was so bad against the crap Cowboys he quit two days later.

It would be worse to go out with a victory parade killing. This way is cake

Graham Walker. Keep it in the family.

Needs to retire from the game. No shame in going out in the superbowl. He's played entire seasons that those ****s in the Eagles haven't. He goes deep into the Championship game or the SB every year. The eagles flame out every other year because they're a collection of princessses that need to be catered too and coddled. Kelce has had to play at a high level year in and year out and I'd imagine it's worn him down physically.

Chiefs have played at least one more seasons worth of games in the last 5-7 years......Correct? That wears people out.

IIRC, Dan Marino retired after losing 62-7 to the Jags in the playoffs.

You wouldn’t think guys would want to, but some times they sort of have to.

Right. There's no guarantee that his next game will be any better. He has a great legacy even if his last game he doesn't perform well.

You can tell he is getting worn down w comments he made in his podcast. To go through a whole another season and that grind - I think a good chance he retires and I don't blame him.

If he has to think about it, then the decision has already been made.

He may not know it yet, but I think he’ll come to that conclusion over the next few days.

There was a time when football was his entire life. His whole identity. The reason he woke up in the morning.

Now he’s in commercials, on podcasts, in movies and tv shows, hosting game shows and dating the most famous woman in the world.

Football is simply not his whole life anymore and he’s realizing that and it’s causing him to lose his edge.

In this sport, you’re either all in or you’re out. And he’s simply not at a point in his life where he’s all in anymore.

That’s fine. He’s more than earned it. He would never have been able to put himself in the position that he’s in if he wasn’t a complete badass on the football field for over a decade.

But it’s time now and I think it’s going to be official in the next week or two.

Thanks for the memories 87.

I think he has one more year, especially if he uses all of his resources and he commits to nutrition and staying in shape in the offseason. He easily can afford all of the body reviving treatments that Joe Rogan talks about, no way Brady didn't use stem cells to help him play as long as he did. I'm 60/40 that he comes back over not coming back, I think he wants to get one more ring

I respectfully disagree. Maybe I’m just looking at it with blinders. I still hear the same comments that Jason made before he decided to play his final season.

Here’s why I just don’t see the concern
- it’s not about money. The chiefs make a killing if Travis is a chief regardless of how much he plays.
- he is a TE and unlike Jason can be rep managed
- the fire to play a final season is way way different when you know every week is special and every moment is your last
- Travis and the chiefs haven’t had the understanding yet that he needs to be a role player. Simple solution… give him way less reps. Don’t center the offense around him.
- the chiefs more than any other team prove they can survive by shelving good players and saving them for the playoffs. If we want to shave cap, then come to a common understanding that Travis can hold out early on and play less games for less overall money. Seems like a win win.

If the issue is about the long grind and all the games he’s played the past few years then manage them. Save them up for a final run. Yeah I think he’s going to really really regret making this decision impulsively with the hangover of a nightmare game vs having a special season where you can drink in every single moment. I just really do not believe that switch flipped from a week ago when he was ecstatic about playing 3 more years to all of a sudden rappaport saying he’s finished.

All over the world Jet lag on the older athlete's body. Next Deberg

To my last point… why wouldn’t kelce and chiefs just mutually agree to hold out in exchange for a lower salary? It seems like a huge win for both sides.

I kinda agree.

With his new relationship last year and with Taylor on tour, he spent the offseason traveling (as all of us would do) and did so in private jets. I mean it could be worse.

Anyway, with Taylor not on tour, I think Travis can actually get some down time this offseason. His brother was very open during his decision to retire. It was an open book. We got to watch it. I think Travis will be equally emotional about calling it quits. He will wrestle with it. I'm fine either way. However, if he walks, and a WR like Emeka Egbuka is sitting there at the end of the first round I would have to pull the trigger.

The SB tape is pathetic. He was out of it.

To be fair you would need to see all of Kelce's plays. I'm not interested enough

That's going to be the biggest loss. That and Travis and Mahomes seem to AF, so I doubt he's too excited about losing killer Trav.

Well then you might as well cut most of the offense.

I get it. Its better he retires for sure. I'd definitely miss watching him play but that is $$$ the chiefs need.

They aren't going to be a FA player so what do they need it for?

it's money the chiefs need but Travis has been underpaid this entire dynasty given what he's contributed

I have no idea if he retires or not but Jason seems like he kinda regrets retiring when he did and Travis seems like the kind of guy who will listen to his brother's advice which may well be you'll regret it if this SB was your last game

my gut says he comes back but lol that's completely meaningless I just want to say I called it

If Trav retires, I will wish him all the best.


However, I question whether most of you have even looked into his stats vs. the other top TEs in the league in 2024. Because in his “worst” season, he’s still the 5th best TE statistically. Just for example, he caught 300 more yds than Goedert.


If he decides to come back, he won’t be the weak link for the team, that’s for sure.

Great leader. He might be my favorite chief of all time.

I hope he comes back, preferably without a gut next time so he can hit the ground running in week one.

should have won the game then you could have retired

wouldn't surprise me if that was the plan but it all went to shit when nobody adjusted to move the ****ing pocket and just kept letting the Eagles defensive line meet at the same spot every snap.

still can't believe they never adjusted to that collapsing the pocket shit, roll out RPO style move the ****ing pocket. screamed that at the TV enough, just truly disappointing to come up that short on the 3 peat when we should have likely won that game

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/getnickwright?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@getnickwright</a> weighs in on whether Travis Kelce should retire:<br><br>“I think he should do whatever the hell he wants and if that means he figures it out in August, I think we can make it work.” <a href="https://t.co/0FGH1wXuxS">pic.twitter.com/0FGH1wXuxS</a></p>&mdash; First Things First (@FTFonFS1) <a href="https://twitter.com/FTFonFS1/status/1889787564288000371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Chiefs need to re load and not rely on these older guys. Kelce said himself he wasn’t being the leader he should be and basically admitted he wasn’t into this season at times. We won’t win another sb w Patty and Travis mentally exhausted and not fully focused.

I agree there too. I think he wouldve retired if they won it. Now he's pondering does he return or not. I still can't see him going out like this unless his body can't take it anymore like Jason Kelce.

11.5 million - I hope that's not correct
 

Free Agents
DeAndre Hopkins
Trey Smith
Justin Reid
Nick Bolton
Charles Omenihu
Hollywood Brown
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The Chiefs think he’s retiring

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;My gut tells me this is IT.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/JamesPalmerTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JamesPalmerTV</a> heard from inside the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> organization about Travis Kelce&#39;s future 😳<a href="https://twitter.com/heykayadams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@heykayadams</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chiefs</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChiefsKingdom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChiefsKingdom</a> <a href="https://t.co/dJigP5IXvs">pic.twitter.com/dJigP5IXvs</a></p>&mdash; Up &amp; Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/UpAndAdamsShow/status/1889764674062684440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Like I said, having to think about it at all is really the decision.

If he still really wanted to play there wouldn’t be any hesitation.

These guys at this level live for this shit. If they have to ask themselves if they still want to do it then that’s usually the sign that it’s time to call it a career.

I’ve heard multiple interviews with former players who pointed to that exact thing being when they realized they were retiring. If you have to ask yourself if you want to come back, that means it’s over.