KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 10: Tight end Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce broke his silence on the recent rumors that he could retire in the not-so-distant future.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon ahead of the club’s Wild Card Round playoff game against the Miami Dolphins, the future Hall of Famer made it clear that retirement is simply not going to come any time soon, via The Athletic’s Nate Taylor.

 

“I have no reason to not (keep playing) football,” Kelce said. “I love it. I love the challenge it gives me every day. … I have no desire to stop anytime soon.”

The 34-year-old Kelce missed two games in the regular season and didn’t perform up to his usual standards. He finished with 984 receiving yards, the first time he failed to hit the 1K mark since 2015.

 

Kelce averaged 10.6 yards per reception, the lowest mark of his career. The five touchdown receptions he hauled in were also a far cry from the 12 he put up for the Super Bowl 57 champions last year.

But a healthy Kelce is still one of football’s premier offensive weapons, and he’s still a good bet to put up 1,000 yards receiving at full health. The bottom line is that there’s plenty of good football left in Kelce, as long as he wants to continue playing.