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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes addressed tight end Travis Kelce's potential retirement decision after their team's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX Sunday (February 9) night.
“I'll let Travis make that decision on his own, man. He's given so much to this team and to the NFL and been such a joy, not only for me to work with but for people to watch," Mahomes said via NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "He knows he still has a lot of football left in him. You can see it. … He's done enough to be a gold jacket guy and a first-ballot Hall of Famer. … He'll get to spend some time with his family and make that decision on his own."
Last week, Kelce responded "hopefully still playing football" when asked where he plans to be in three years during Super Bowl LIX opening night festivities.
“Hopefully still playing football,” Kelce said via the Associated Press. “I love doing this, I love coming into work every day. I feel like I still have a lot of good football left in me. We’ll see what happens. I know I’ve been setting myself up for other opportunities in my life. That’s always been the goal knowing football only lasts for so long. You have to find a way to get into another career and another profession. I’ve been doing that in my offseason. But for the most part, I plan on being a Kansas City Chief and playing football.”
Kelce, 35, recently surpassed the 1,000 career receptions plateau and became the Chiefs' all-time leader in touchdown receptions, but has seen his numbers decline, recording 823 yards and three touchdowns, his lowest single-season totals in both categories since becoming a starter in 2014. The 35-year-old finished Sunday's game with four receptions for 39 yards.