Travis Kelce Sparks Retirement Speculation With 'Last Hoorah' Comment
12/18/2024 09:44 AM
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce returned to Ohio last weekend to take on the Cleveland Browns. He finished that game with four receptions for 27 yards.
On this week's episode of the "New Heights" podcast, Kelce talked about going back to Ohio. The All-Pro tight end admit that it may have been the final time in his illustrious career that he suits up in front of his hometown crowd. At least in his mind it was. That's why he was referring to it as his "last hoorah" this past Sunday.
"It felt so surreal," Kelce said. "I don't know if it's the last time I'll play in Cleveland but it kinda felt like I was giving it one last hoorah before I'm done because I've only played there twice in 12 years… It was a special day for me personally."
Naturally, those remarks from Kelce sparked rumors about him possibly retiring from the NFL soon.
Kelce signed a two-year extension worth $34.25 million with the Chiefs during the 2024 offseason. His current deal runs through the 2025 season. Although he hasn't said anything yet, there's a legitimate chance he retires once that contract is up.
If Kelce is truly done playing football after the 2025 season, that means last weekend's game was most likely his "last hoorah" in Cleveland, so it's tough to blame him for feeling a bit emotional.
Kelce admit a few months ago that a potential three-peat motivated him to play this year for the Chiefs. He said, "I think the excitement of the challenge of this year, being able to maybe do it a third time in a row, I think that alone was all I needed."
Eventually, that motivation will leave him. It hasn't yet obviously since he's out there competing on a weekly basis.
Kelce, a future Hall of Famer, has 84 receptions for 709 yards and two touchdowns this season. From a production standpoint, that's well below his standards. And yet, it wouldn't surprise us if he just flips the switch in the playoffs.
The Chiefs are on track to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That would give Kelce to rest and recharge before the Divisional Round.
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