Chiefs’ Travis Kelce pondering NFL retirement ‘more than anyone could ever imagine’

Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce is one of the most accomplished players at his position in NFL history, and his career on the gridiron might soon be coming to a close.

The Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native is a two-time Super Bowl champion, four-time All-Pro honoree and eight-time Pro Bowler in his 11 seasons. He ranks first all-time in receiving yards per game amongst tight ends, fourth in receptions, fourth in receiving yards and fifth in receiving touchdowns.

But now with more than a decade of NFL success and accolades to his name, the 34-year-old Kelce said he’s pondering retirement.

“More than anyone could ever imagine,” he told the Wall Street Journal .

Kelce cited the difficulties of playing football and the toll injuries have taken on his body as key factors in his retirement considerations.

“That’s the only thing I’ve never really been open about,” Kelce said. “The discomfort. The pain. The lingering injuries—the 10 surgeries I’ve had that I still feel every single surgery to this day.”

Kelce, who has also made considerable headlines this season about his budding romance with pop star Taylor Swift, missed the Chiefs’ 2023 season opener against the Detroit Lions due to a knee injury, but has played in each of the team’s nine games since then.

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Kelce’s consideration of retirement is a change in tune from earlier this year, when the former University of Cincinnati standout said in June he planned to play football “until the wheels fall off, baby.”

“I love this game, man. I know I’m going to miss it when I’m done playing,” Kelce said in June when asked about how much longer he plans to play in the NFL. “I hear you on that, and that’s a business decision I’m sure I’ll have to make at some point in my life, but for right now, I’m in this building wanting to win football games, man.”

The Chiefs currently sport a 7-3 overall record and are tied for first place in the AFC.