Travis Kelce’s spring sadness amid Super Bowl loss and Chiefs’ drastic decision over his future

The Kansas City Chiefs are still reeling from their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, but the franchise must turn the page after its dreams of a Super Bowl three-peat went up in smoke at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. And Kansas City has teased dramatic changes for 2025 as it seeks to recapture the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The future of legendary tight end Travis Kelce is up in the air, as the 35-year-old has acknowledged that he will contemplate retirement this offseason. Less than a year after signing a new contract that made him the best-paid tight end in the NFL, Kelce’s pro football career may be over — the Chiefs seem to be implying as much amid a recent report that Kelce’s role will be significantly reduced if he opts to come back next season.

NFL analyst Chad Withrow believes the Chiefs are trying subtly to nudge Kelce toward retirement after 12 stellar seasons. Kansas City knows that much of its 2025 cap space is tied up in six players — including Kelce and Patrick Mahomes — and general manager Brett Veach views Kelce as one of the easier cap casualties he can identify.

“The Chiefs have given Kelce a soft deadline of around March 14 to make a decision and inform the club. Why is March 14 important? Well, it’s two days into NFL free agency, but also, his $11.5 million roster bonus actually hits the next day, on March 15,” Withrow explained. “Now, I see a story like this, and I think: Is it really wise to push Travis Kelce into a decision or say anything like ‘deadline’ to a guy like that?”
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Kelce ranks fifth all-time in tight end receiving yards and touchdowns while ranking third in receptions. The three-time Super Bowl champion though could not arrest the trend that dominated his 2024 narrative: that he has slowed down, amid “distractions” that include pop star girlfriend Taylor Swift and his “New Heights” podcast.

Given the Chiefs have limited cap space with which to work and a burning desire to reach Super Bowl LX next season, the situation is becoming fairly clear for Kelce: retire or accept a mentorship role as the Chiefs move forward.