Former NFL great Rob Gronkowski weighs in on Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s future in professional football. Gronk compares Kelce’s statistics to his age and is left in amazement as the Kansas City TE gets better as he gets older.
Gronk About Travis Kelce and His Ability To Continue Playing
Gronkowski appeared on the Up & Adams podcast and said he believes Kelce will be able to go at least two more years at full speed with the success he is having. Kelce is 35 years old, and while his statistics might not show it, he’s actually playing better as he grows older.
“I believe he can go AT LEAST another 2 years,” Gronkowski said. “We’re talking his stats being down… How are your stats down if you have 80 plus catches at 35 years old?”
As Kelce nears his 35th birthday, the All-Pro tight end shared how he still comes to the Chiefs’ facility with zeal, fueling his renewed desire to keep going and hold off on retirement.
“I really can’t put a timeframe on it,” Kelce said to reporters following a summer minicamp practice. “I love coming to work every single day. Obviously, I know there’s opportunities outside of football for me. I think you’ve gotta keep in perspective that I’m a little kid when I come in this building.”
.@robgronkowski on Travis Kelce's future in the NFL 👀
"I believe he can go AT LEAST another 2 years. We're talking his stats being down… How are your stats down if you have 80 plus catches at 35 years old??"@heykayadams @tkelce @Chiefs | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/FJLnGptHby
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 24, 2024
Kelce’s plans for 2024 and ahead with the back-to-back champs?
“I’m gonna do it until the wheels fall off,” he said. “Hopefully, that doesn’t happen anytime soon. I can definitely understand that it’s [more] toward the end of the road than the beginning of it. I just gotta make sure I’m set up for after football, as well.”
Kelce hasn’t wavered from dominating on the football field. Ever since he hit 29 years of age, all he’s done is produce six straight seasons of snatching between 90 to 100 catches while accompanied by multiple 1,000-yard campaigns.
Few tight ends in NFL history have been able to match Kelce’s production. One of the closest to Kelce is Hall of Famer and past Chiefs great Tony Gonzalez, who produced eight Pro Bowl appearances once he turned 29 and eventually stretched his career to the age of 37, finishing his career with the Atlanta Falcons.
Another is Antonio Gates of the Chargers. While in San Diego, Gates produced three Pro Bowl nominations, including one 1,000-yard season (1,157 in 2009) once he hit 29. Gates eventually retired at the age of 38.
Meanwhile, a tight end Kelce is often compared to, George Kittle, has delivered three straight Pro Bowl nods for the San Francisco 49ers after turning 28.
Kelce is also under contract through 2025, which he agreed to in May. This new deal makes him the highest-paid NFL tight end, paying the three-time Super Bowl winner $34,250,000, including $17 million guaranteed.