Kelce not considering retirement: 'Got a full heart of football left in me'
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce isn't ready to hang up the cleats.
"I've got a full heart of football left in me," Kelce said Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "I really love this game and I think throughout the year it can get pretty tough."
He continued: "It's moments like these, the playoffs, these memories that I'll have with the teammates and coaches that I go to war with. ... There's just a certain love that I've found in it, and I think it's because of the people that I go to work with."
The 35-year-old is one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' go-to players but saw a dip in production this season. Kelce finished the regular season with 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns, the lowest totals of his 11-year career.
But Kelce has stepped up in the postseason and continued to build on NFL records. He holds the league records for most playoff games with 100-plus receiving yards (nine), most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in the playoffs (20), and most career postseason receptions (174).
"He's getting older, and so we're trying to cut back some of his reps, and he won't do it," Mahomes said Tuesday, per The Athletic's Michael Silver. "Whenever you're tired and whenever you're not wanting to take a practice seriously or take a rep seriously, you look at him and he's going full speed, scoring touchdowns after every catch, and it motivates you to take your game up to another level."
The future Hall of Famer has spent his entire NFL career with the Chiefs and helped the team win three Super Bowls in five seasons. He has one more season left on his contract before becoming a free agent.
"It's such a special time in Chiefs history, and this legacy is just so fun to be a part of," Kelce said Wednesday, per Silver. “I'm just trying to cherish all these memories and make the most out of all these opportunities that we have chasing these rings."
The Chiefs are looking to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.