Peyton Manning Offers Retirement Advice To Travis Kelce

With the 2024 NFL season officially over, Travis Kelce faces one of the biggest decisions of his career: whether to return for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs or retire as a three-time Super Bowl champion.

As the future Hall of Famer weighs his options, another NFL legend has some words of wisdom for Travis Kelce.

Speaking at the "Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special" on February 16, former quarterback Peyton Manning offered some perspective on the decision-making process.

"I hope he takes some time and he doesn’t make a rushed decision," Manning told E! News. "The last thing you want to do is say, ‘OK, I’m going to make a decision now. Take some time. Take a full month. Let some things digest and calm down. He can make a better decision then."

Manning, who retired after winning Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos, understands the weight of the decision Kelce is facing.

Kelce has already admitted that he’s unsure about playing next year. While he still has one year remaining on his contract with the Chiefs, his 2024 season was statistically one of his worst, raising fair questions about whether it's time to walk away.

The tight end recently addressed his future on the February 12 episode of his "New Heights" podcast, indicating that he plans to do exactly what Manning suggested and take his time.

"I know everybody wants to know whether or not I’m playing next year, and right now I’m just kicking everything down the road," Kelce explained. "I’m not making any crazy decisions, but right now, the biggest thing is just being there for my teammates and being there for my coaches, understanding that a lot goes into this thing."

He went on to emphasize that whatever choice he makes, it will be a thoughtful and intentional decision.

"I’m gonna take some time to figure it out," he said. "I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it’s gonna be something that’s a wholehearted decision. It’s just whether or not I’m motivated or if it’s the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person, to take on all that responsibility."

While Kelce is taking his time, it seems he won’t have the luxury of waiting indefinitely. According to The Athletic, the Chiefs have reportedly given him one month to make his decision.

This timeline lines up with the NFL's free agency period, which begins on March 10, and comes just before the key financial deadline of Kelce's $11.5 million roster bonus on March 15. The Chiefs need to finalize their roster decisions ahead of the 2025 season, and Kelce’s status will play a crucial role in their planning.

With the Chiefs pressing for a decision, Kelce will need to weigh whether he has one more championship run left in him or if it's time to walk away on top. If he chooses to retire, he will leave behind a legacy as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. If he returns, the Chiefs will have one of their most trusted weapons back for another Super Bowl chase.

At 35 years old, Kelce has already solidified his place as one of the greatest receiving tight ends in NFL history. His career stats put him among the all-time best at the position, ranking third in career receptions (1,004) and receiving yards (12,151) while sitting fifth in career receiving touchdowns (77).

Beyond his regular season dominance, Kelce has been a key piece of the Chiefs' historic dynasty. His connection with quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been one of the most productive duos in postseason history, setting an NFL record with 17 playoff touchdowns, which is the most by any QB-receiver duo in history.

Their partnership has led the Chiefs to five Super Bowl appearances since 2019, resulting in three championships, including their most recent victory in Super Bowl LIX. During that game, Kelce achieved yet another historic milestone, surpassing Jerry Rice for the most career Super Bowl receptions.

As the offseason unfolds, all eyes will be on Kelce’s next move, whether he returns for another Super Bowl run or decides to hang up his cleats for good.