Chiefs Give Travis Kelce Tight Deadline Regarding Retirement Decision

The Kansas City Chiefs have given star tight end Travis Kelce a tight deadline to determine his NFL future.

With the NFL’s free agency period beginning on March 10, the timing of Travis Kelce’s decision could have major implications for the team’s offseason plans.

Kansas City Chiefs' tight end Travis Kelce has been given a deadline of March 14 to decide on his potential retirement, as reported by The Athletic.

This timeline aligns with the NFL's free agency period starting on March 10 and precedes an $11.5 million roster bonus due to Kelce on March 15. Clearly, the Chiefs are eager to finalize their roster plans for the upcoming season and want to know if they should include Kelce's name or not.

At 35, Kelce has cemented his place among the greatest receiving tight ends in NFL history. He currently ranks third all-time in career receptions (1,004) and receiving yards (12,151), while sitting fifth in career receiving touchdowns (77).

His contributions have been vital to the Chiefs’ dynasty, as he and quarterback Patrick Mahomes have formed one of the most productive duos in postseason history. The pair has connected for 17 postseason touchdowns, the most by any quarterback-receiver duo in NFL playoff history.

Their partnership has resulted in five Super Bowl appearances since 2019, with three championships, including a recent victory in Super Bowl LIX. During that game, Kelce set yet another milestone by surpassing Jerry Rice for most career Super Bowl receptions.

With retirement rumors circulating, Mahomes shared his thoughts with reporters, stating, "He's given so much to this team and to the NFL and he's been such a joy, not only for me to work with, but for people to watch.

However, years of deep playoff runs and heavy usage have taken a physical toll on Kelce.

Since Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018, Kelce has played in 21 postseason games, essentially adding an extra season’s worth of high-intensity matchups to his career. Despite this, he has been remarkably durable, missing only five regular-season starts over that span.

Additionally, he has been Kansas City’s most-targeted player in eight of the last nine seasons, receiving at least 100 targets in each campaign since 2015. His 1,233 regular-season receptions place him far ahead of the next closest active tight end, Zach Ertz, a fellow member of the 2013 draft class.

Kelce has been contemplating his future following the Chiefs' recent Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

On his "New Heights" podcast, he mentioned, "I know everybody wants to know whether I am playing next year and right now I am just kicking everything down the road."

He went on to talk about the mental and physical strain of prolonged success, telling his brother, “That process can be grueling. It can weigh on you. It can make you better, and it could drive you crazy at the same time. Right now, it’s one of those things where it was kind of driving me crazy this year, and I think that it happens as you tail off toward the back nine of your career, as (Scott Van Pelt) would say.”

“I'm gonna take some time to figure it out. And, I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it's a wholehearted decision. I'm not half-a--ing it, and I'm fully here for them,” he added.

His performance in Super Bowl LIX reflected some of the challenges he has faced. For the first time in his career, Kelce was held without a reception in the first half of a playoff game, but he rebounded in the second half to finish with four receptions for 39 yards.

Even as he continued to be a focal point of the Chiefs’ offense, his production saw a dip in the 2024 regular season, recording 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns, both career lows for the 12-year veteran.

With the Chiefs setting a deadline for his retirement decision, Kelce faces a pivotal moment in his career. Whether he chooses to return for another season or walk away on top, his legacy as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history is already secured.