Rapaport: Kelce undecided about future, may retire after Super Bowl

[SHOWTIME]

Let's win this for Travis...

From The Insiders in New Orleans: #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce could be playing in his final game on Sunday, as he’s undecided on his future. pic.twitter.com/xQbaMnfO6s

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 9, 2025

[In58men]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

His brother did it...

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

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

[RollChiefsRoll]

Originally Posted by wazu

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.

Yeah, he gone.

[ntexascardfan]

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.

[Shields68]

Originally Posted by VAChief

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.

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.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by In58men

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.

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.

[Red Dawg]

Originally Posted by In58men

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.

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.

[Rainbarrel]

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

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Graham Walker. Keep it in the family.

[seamonster]

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.

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

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.

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

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I can't imagine him retiring after that game. That was one of the worst games of his career. He wouldn't want to go out like that.

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.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

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.

[comochiefsfan]

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.

[GordonGekko]

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

[chiefzilla1501]

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.