On this week’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast, Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce provided the latest update on his future in the NFL with his co-host and brother, former Philadelphia Eagles’ center Jason Kelce.
The show started with a scare, as Kelce opened the show by acknowledging the end of the Chiefs’ season and his upcoming free agency with a joke.
“I am officially jobless, Jason,” Kelce said. “Actually, this is my only job.”
“Well, no, you’re still employed,” Jason responded. “Unless you stop playing, have you announced you’ve stopped playing?”
“This is the only company that employs me right now,” said Travis.
Kelce does not officially become an unrestricted free agent until the new league year begins on March 11th at 3:00 p.m. Arrowhead Time. However, he needs to know if he wants to continue playing professional football before his agents can negotiate a contract in Kansas City or elsewhere.
The only silver lining to the Chiefs’ disastrous season may be the amount of time it allows the future Hall of Fame tight end to recover as he mulls over a life-changing decision.
“After every season ends for me, I just put my feet up and be a human,” Kelce shared. “I’ve been putting my body through the wringer for the love of it. I do enjoy playing football and the physical aspect of it. I think there’s something about feeling the wear and tear of the football season… knowing your body is beat down, there’s something to it, it just makes you feel like a mangy animal just out here trying to survive.”
The big, mangy Yeti is resting a month earlier than he is used to; Kelce has played in at least three postseason games for six consecutive seasons. It’s unfamiliar territory for the 36-year-old, but he is using the time to make the right decision — whenever it will be made.
“I’ve talked to a few people in the facility already, having the exit meetings and everything, and they know where I stand — at least right now,” Kelce said. “There’s a lot of love for the game that’s still there; I don’t think I’ll ever lose that. It’s a tough thing to navigate.”
For Kelce, it will come down to how he feels physically — but he has a clear stance about his desire to play.
“If my body can heal up and rest up, and I can feel confident I can give it another 18-21-week run, I would do it in a heartbeat,” Kelce noted. “Right now, it’s just finding that answer and seeing how the body feels after this game and when it all settles down.”
Defensive tackle Chris Jones believes Kelce will be back and expressed that to the media following Week 18’s 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. When Jason brought that up to Travis on the podcast, the Chiefs’ legend just smiled.
“That’s why we love Chris,” Kelce said. “He’s very optimistic.”
Optimism or confidence, Jones’ belief has a stronger chance of being correct with the extended offseason. Kelce sounds like a player who appreciates the game enough to still be part of it. This season, he looked capable of continuing to play. So if it really does come down to how Kelce feels, playing four fewer games than he did a year ago could extend his career by at least one more season.
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