Travis Kelce has vowed to play ‘until the wheels come off’ following speculation that he would retire at the end of the season.
Kelce, 34, is in his 11th NFL season, and former sideline reporter Michelle Tafoya recently claimed that he would follow his brother Jason into retirement at the end of the year.
But in a new bonus episode of the brothers’ ‘New Heights’ podcast, Travis didn’t seem ready to let go of football anytime soon.
‘I haven’t found something outside of football that’s going to challenge me like playoff football,’ he said. ‘And I don’t know if I’ll ever find that. And that’s one of the things that’ll make me play this game until the wheels fall off.
‘It’s an energy and an excitement that I haven’t found anywhere else in the world, and it’s something that I definitely cherish,’ he added.
Travis Kelce said in a bonus episode of ‘New Heights’ that he’ll play ‘until the wheels fall off’
Kelce had 75 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Buffalo during the divisional round
Tafoya, formerly of NBC’s ‘Sunday Night Football’, had made her claim during an interview with Marc Ryan of CBS Sports Radio.
‘I think Travis Kelce is retiring after this season like his brother, so I think there’s just a ton of motivation there for (the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl). … I think they’re highly motivated,’ she said.
Kelce had 75 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Buffalo as the Chiefs beat the Bills in the divisional round.
The older Kelce’s retirement has not yet been confirmed, but Jason, 36, reportedly told his Eagles teammates that he is retiring after the Eagles were eliminated from the playoffs by the Buccaneers.
Jason has since supported Travis during the Chiefs’ playoff games, as he ripped his shirt off and jumped into the crowd last weekend in Buffalo during his first meeting with Taylor Swift, who is dating Travis.
This weekend, Kansas City will travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.
Behind MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson and their usually stout defense, the Ravens went 13-4 this season as they topped the AFC standings.
‘This year, they’re the No. 1 seed for a reason,’ Kelce said of Baltimore. ‘They played the best football Weeks 1 through 17 and right now they are playing their best football. And it’s gonna be a big challenge, man, big challenge. But damn does that get you f******g excited!’
On Friday, Kelce showered his quarterback Patrick Mahomes with praise as the Chiefs geared up for the AFC Championship.
Kelce spoke to reporters on Friday and showered his quarterback Patrick Mahomes with praise
‘The naysayers can say what they want but he’s playing his best football right now and you’re seeing why he’s the best quarterback in the league.’
After winning two Super Bowls together, Kelce also reflected on his journey with Mahomes and Kansas City thus far as they look to defend last season’s title.
‘Man, it’s been a hell of a ride up to this point baby and I don’t feel like getting off the rollercoaster any time soon,’ he said. ‘But I’ve been fortunate that 15 landed here.
‘And on top of that has been willing to grow, not only with me but with coach Reid and his offense. And trying to build this thing to where it is today. Hopefully we just keep ascending into the direction where we wanna go.’