Fresh off a two-year contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, tight end Travis Kelce intends to play “until the wheels fall off.”
“Hopefully, that doesn’t happen anytime soon,” the 34-year-old said Tuesday.
After agreeing to a new two-year contract in April, the four-time All-Pro tight end became the highest-paid tight end in his 11-year career. Kelce will receive $17 million in guaranteed salary under the terms of the new contract, which will keep him with the team through at least 2025. A league insider claims that his $17.25 million contract in 2025 is essentially guaranteed.
Although Kelce will turn 35 in October, he stated he is not quite ready to retire.
“I really can’t put a timeframe on (retirement). ” he said. “I love coming to work every single day. Obviously, I know there’s opportunities outside of football for me. You have to keep in perspective that I’m still a little kid when I come into this building, man. I know I’m 34 years old, but I have a love to do this right here, in the middle of the heat in June. I love coming to work every single day.”
Leading the team with 93 receptions for 984 yards during the regular season, Kelce played a major role in helping the Chiefs win the Super Bowl for the second time in a row the previous year. Kelce improved during the Chiefs’ four-game postseason run, hauling in 32 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns.
He has won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs, nine Pro Bowls, and four first-team All-Pro selections.
Particularly with quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the peak of his career, Kelce maintained before Super Bowl LVIII in early February that he had no intention of retiring.
Along with his friendship with music sensation Taylor Swift, Kelce co-hosts the podcast “New Heights” with his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, which helped make him a household figure last season.
Apart from his notoriety, Kelce has been among the most productive tight ends in the NFL. Among tight ends, his 11,328 career receiving yards and 907 career receptions rank fourth all-time.
(Photo: Michael Owens / Getty Images)
