KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs star tight finish Travis Kelce has left the door open for a return subsequent season — and never having this yr be the final in his illustrious profession.
As a 13-year veteran, Kelce understands how tough it was for his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles middle Jason Kelce, to retire after the 2023 season. Though he’s within the remaining yr of his contract, Travis Kelce shared Friday that he plans to determine on whether or not to return to the Chiefs by early March, earlier than NFL free company begins.
“I wish to give the Chiefs alternative, whether or not I come again or not — or whether or not they need me again or not,” Kelce stated. “I would wish to make that call earlier than they have to get draft picks and free company opens to fill the roster appropriately.
“All that will likely be on the finish of the season. I will not be desirous about it till then.”
Since June, Kelce, 36, had spoken about his future by means of solely this season. If Kelce does return for his 14th season, he emphasised that he would not need followers, groups or gamers to provide him a farewell tour.
“That is not me,” Kelce stated.
One main purpose Kelce would possibly re-sign with the Chiefs within the offseason is as a result of this season he has proved to nonetheless be one of many NFL’s best tight ends.
Kelce is on tempo for an eighth season with 1,000 receiving yards and his first since 2022. Though the Chiefs have a full assortment of receivers — Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and Tyquan Thornton — Kelce nonetheless leads the workforce in targets (66), receptions (50), yards (631), touchdowns (4) and receiving first downs (33). The Arizona Cardinals’ Trey McBride (718) is the one tight finish with extra yards than Kelce.
Kelce praised the Chiefs’ receivers for helping him in his success.
“I feel what you are seeing is I am a product of my surroundings proper now,” Kelce stated, smiling. “Every little thing relies off of how the offensive line does and the way the fellows round us do and, clearly, the chemistry me and [Patrick Mahomes] have been capable of accumulate over time.”
This previous offseason, Kelce did what he did when he was a youthful participant: He skilled in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with Tony Villani to recapture a few of the velocity, agility and quickness he felt he had misplaced over the previous two seasons. The noticeable enchancment in athleticism has allowed Kelce to regain a trait that made him one of many league’s best cross catchers: He has punished opposing defenses with 339 yards after the catch, third most amongst tight ends.
“He is carried out a heck of a job,” coach Andy Reid stated. “He labored like loopy within the offseason to get himself in tip-top form, which it’s a must to do while you begin reaching an older age. You have to work a bit bit additional, and he did that. It is paying off for him.”
Kelce stated the offseason work “positively helped me to at the least get a head begin on a few of the put on and tear” of a season. In final week’s loss to the Denver Broncos, he broke the Chiefs’ document for many profession touchdowns.
Although the Chiefs are averaging extra factors this yr (25.4) than final yr (22.6), they enter Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts with a 5-5 document. All 5 of the Chiefs’ losses have been by seven or fewer factors.
Kelce is assured the Chiefs, who’re sitting outdoors the AFC playoff image, can enhance their efficiency within the remaining stretch, particularly within the fourth quarter of video games, to clinch a playoff spot.
“I simply suppose the chemistry, how collectively we’re and the way a lot we’re keen to combat for one another, it isn’t a matter of effort,” Kelce stated. “It is all simply execution. We’re in right here each single day grinding our tails off making an attempt to get that fastened. You are feeling it from the coaches. They’re tightening issues up a bit bit in order that we give attention to these particulars in order that we are able to play quick and play with a goal.”
