Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce passionately spoke about what he will cherish most about his NFL career as he contemplates playing a 14th season or pivoting to a career in broadcasting.
During Wednesday’s installment of the “New Heights” podcast, Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss asked the three-time Super Bowl champ what he’ll miss most about the league if the 2025 season was his last.
“Man, I think it’s just those those moments in the big games, man,” Kelce, 36, said. “The feeling of having to rise to the occasion, be there for, you know, 70,000, that are all counting on you out there, outside of just the guys that you go to war with, the guys go to battle with, man.
“Those moments of rising to the occasion in the heat of the battle, you know, in the playoffs and all the big games out there, man, that’s a feeling that I know I’ll never get again… Those are the things that you cherish the most.
“And especially if you’re fortunate enough to be in the playoffs and make runs at it. The satisfaction that you get and the successful feeling you get of all the hard work that you put in is finally paying off, and I think that’ll be one of the things I miss the most, man, for sure.”
Travis signed a two-year deal worth $34.25 million with the Chiefs in April 2024.
His comments came after The Athletic reported Kelce could earn $15 million as a studio presence for a network if he takes his talents to television — adding that the tight end prefers to call games as an analyst in the booth.
Kelce has been open on his “New Heights” podcast with his brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce, about a potential career in broadcasting whenever he calls it a career for good.
The future Hall of Famer played what may have been his final game on Jan. 4, a road loss to the Raiders in Las Vegas, as the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
During a January installment of the “New Heights” podcast, Kelce explained that he spoke with the team about his playing future and that “they know where I stand at least for now.”
He added that he wanted to take time to rest and heal this offseason before making a decision.
Kelce and his fiancée, Taylor Swift, are reportedly set to tie the knot sometime this summer after announcing their engagement last August.
Chiefs general manager, Brett Veach, discussed Kelce’s potential retirement during a press conference in February.
“I think we’ve kind of taken a different approach with Travis in the sense that I think we’ve kind of prepared for either scenario,” Veach said at the time. “Travis is the best, he’s an icon, hopefully he comes back and we’ll just kind of let that process play out.”
The Chiefs traded cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams on Wednesday.
