Travis Kelce admits $19 million financial pressure was behind Kansas City Chiefs retirement decision
Chiefs star was asked about retirement by his brother Jason on New Heights
TRAVIS Kelce admitted financial pressures played a part in his decision to return in 2025.
The tight end, 35, has committed to one more year in the NFL after retirement speculation.
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Travis Kelce admitted he thought about finances before making his retirement decisionCredit: Reuters
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Kelce had a ‘bad taste’ after the Super Bowl LIX defeat against the Philadelphia EaglesCredit: Getty
He is headed into the final season of his two-year $34 million deal.
Kelce will carry a cap hit of more than $19 million for the Chiefs.
But he can apparently earn more off the field after shooting to fame.
The 35-year-old has already launched an acting career, appearing in FX show Grotesquerie and landing a role in the upcoming Happy Gilmore 2 film.
His brother Jason, 37, asked on their New Heights podcast, “Why are you playing another season?”
“Why are you going to go out there, risk injury, and make less money than you could make not playing football?
“Why are you doing this?”
Travis laughed and admitted finances did enter his thought process when making a decision.
“That was kinda the one I had to juggle right there,” Travis admitted.
“The biggest thing is that I love playing the game of football. I love playing.
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“I still feel like I can play it at a high level, and possibly at a higher level than I did last year.
“I don’t think it was my best outing.
“I let my guys down in a lot more moments than I helped them.
“I got a bad taste in my mouth on how I ended the year and how well I was playing.”
Kelce is a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest tight ends to ever play the game.
Talk of retirement came after he slowed down in 2024 by his usual legendary standards.
And Kansas City were dominated by the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX to end their hopes of an unprecedented three-peat.
He also apparently could’ve retired to spend more time with girlfriend Taylor Swift.
The couple are rumored to be planning for a family and possible engagement.
He revealed his decision to return to the field in 2025 in a text to Pat McAfee.
“I’m coming back for sure,” Kelce said.
“Gonna try to get into the best shape I’ve been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop.
“Got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and with how I got the guys ready for battle.
“I can’t go out like that!!!!”
