Speculation about Travis Kelce’s retirement plans has increased after the Philadelphia Eagles thrashed the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. The Chiefs were chasing a historic three-peat but were handed a humiliating 40-22 loss in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
While Kelce has hinted at continuing his career, he is no longer the player he used to be, and former Super Bowl champion Ryan Clark believes he should ask himself whether he wants to continue his career as a “diminished” player.
‘You Know You Don’t Have it Like You Used To’ — Ryan Clark Gets Honest About Travis Kelce
Kelce became the highest-paid tight end in the NFL after signing a two-year contract worth $34.25 million last offseason.
However, the three-time Super Bowl champion had his lowest regular-season yardage total since 2014, finishing with 97 receptions for 823 yards. The Chiefs finished just 12th in PFSN’s Offense+ rankings as a result. He proved his worth in the Divisional Round clash against the Houston Texans, posting a season-high 117 yards and a touchdown, including a 49-yard catch-and-run.
On Sunday, the 35-year-old couldn’t live up to the expectations in arguably the biggest game of his career. Kelce charted only four catches for 39 yards in the Super Bowl after being held out of the box score in the first half.
After an underwhelming performance in the season finale, the spotlight again turned to Kelce’s future, and Clark thinks the tight end is in a similar position to his brother and former Eagles center Jason Kelce was last year.
“Isn’t Travis sort of in the same place our colleague and friend, his brother, Jason Kelce, was in last year? Still feeling like you can still do it, and you still have it, but you know you don’t have it like you used to,” he said on ESPN’s “NFL Live.”
.@RealrClark25 believes Travis Kelce's future depends on whether he's comfortable being a "diminished player" at this stage of his career ✍️ pic.twitter.com/meYQXPWmvT
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 10, 2025
While Jason retired and did so as one of the most decorated offensive linemen in NFL history, his little brother’s fate is uncertain.
“[Whether he retires] is going to be based on whether or not Travis Kelce understands he’s a diminished player and is comfortable with that. Can Travis Kelce go forward in 2025 and be that person, especially when so many lucrative opportunities await him in his second career?
“Travis Kelce is going to have to take some time, sit down, and know what sort of player he wants to be and what sort of life he wants to live, but he’s earned the right to take his time in doing so.”
Those lucrative opportunities include Kelce’s ventures like Casa Azul Reposado Tequila and sports podcast, “New Heights,” which he hosts with his brother. The Kelce brothers recently inked a three-year, $100 million podcast distribution deal with Wondery.
But for now, the 35-year-old star is under contract with the Chiefs for next season and is set to hit free agency in 2026. It remains to be seen whether the superstar will continue to play or hang up his cleats in the wake of Super Bowl 59.
