Travis Kelce Knows What To Do About Retirement, Jason Kelce Says

With retirement speculation swirling around Travis Kelce's future, his older brother, Jason Kelce, believes the Kansas City Chiefs star has already made up his mind about his next step.

After the Chiefs’ crushing Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, questions began circulating about whether Travis might be stepping away from the game. Some fans speculated that the four-time Super Bowl champion might be considering retirement, especially given his dip in production this season.

However, Jason Kelce, who announced his own retirement from the NFL last year, dismissed the uncertainty, suggesting that Travis Kelce already knows what he wants to do.

Speaking on "The Steam Room" podcast with Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson, Jason explained his brother’s mindset, suggesting that Travis has likely already made his decision, even if he hasn’t announced it yet.

"I think he probably, in his heart, already knows what he wants to do," Jason said. "That's the reality of it."

Jason also shared that while the two have discussed the matter, Travis has his own way of thinking through big decisions.

"I'm sure we will talk about it. We've already talked about it a little bit, and I'm sure he's going to go through a process of figuring that out," he explained. "We're very similar people, but we also have different ways of thinking about things."

Unlike Jason, who admits he tends to overanalyze situations, he said Travis takes a more straightforward approach.

"Sometimes I can way overanalyze situations, and my brother has this way of being like, 'Hey man, you want to play or you don't want to play,’” Jason continued. "He'll say something like that where it's just like, don’t worry about all of these minor things. And nine times out of ten, he’s right about all of it."

Despite Jason's belief that Travis has already made up his mind, the Chiefs tight end has publicly stated that he’s still uncertain about his future. On the February 12 episode of his "New Heights" podcast, Travis addressed the speculation, making it clear that he isn’t rushing into any decisions.

"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 said. "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 emphasized that whatever decision he makes will be a thoughtful and intentional one.

"I’m gonna take some time to figure it out," he added. "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 Travis remains one of the NFL’s top tight ends, his stats took a dip in 2024 compared to previous seasons. Though he still logged 97 receptions, four more than last season, his total yardage dropped to 823, a career low. He also finished with just three touchdowns, another personal low.

In the Super Bowl matchup against the Eagles, Philadelphia’s defense held Kelce to just four receptions on six targets for a modest 39 yards.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sacked six times, making it difficult for the Chiefs offense to gain any momentum.

Despite his statistical decline, Kansas City is eager for Kelce to return for another season. However, according to a report by The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, the Chiefs coaching staff envisions Kelce taking on a different role, one that would require him to adjust his game.

Rather than being the focal point of the offense, the Chiefs reportedly want Kelce to transition into a role player, helping support Mahomes and the team’s younger weapons.

As speculation continues, only Travis Kelce can officially put the retirement rumors to rest. But if Jason's insight is any indication, the Chiefs may already have their answer, but are just waiting for Travis to make it public.