The Kansas City Chiefs reportedly want to know sooner rather than later if tight end Travis Kelce plans to either return for the 2025 season or retire.
During Thursday's edition of FS1's "The Facility" program, Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu made a direct plea to Kelce regarding the 35-year-old's future.
"This would be my message to Trav: 'Big dawg, like, we, the whole organization, can't go out like that,'" Omenihu said about Kelce possibly retiring following the Chiefs' 40-22 blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX last Sunday night, as shared by Eric Edholm of the NFL's website.
Kelce repeatedly insisted during Super Bowl week he had "a full heart of football left in me," but he sang a different tune when he admitted during the latest edition of his "New Heights" podcast that the "wear and tear" he's endured during his career has him wondering if he is still "motivated" to play at an elite level.
While Kelce recorded career lows of 823 receiving yards and three touchdown catches during the 2024 regular season, he received praise from individuals within the Chiefs for his leadership efforts and for how his presence on the field gave teammates such as fellow tight end Noah Gray favorable matchups during games. Some may believe Kelce is slowing down and past his prime, but Omenihu is not among those doubters.
"He's a Hall of Famer from the moment he says, 'I'm done,' right? But I think Trav has a lot left," Omenihu continued. "I think Trav is an extreme competitor. I think he's somebody that loves the game. I think in the storied career that he's had, going out like that, in my opinion, wouldn't be something that he would do. ...So I believe that he'll be back. I believe he'll give it one more go."
The contract Kelce signed last spring includes an $11.5M roster bonus that is due to be paid out on March 14, which is why the Chiefs ideally want him to make his decision about playing in 2025 before that date. With that said, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio mentioned on Thursday that the two parties "could always agree to delay the due date for the March 14 bonus" if Kelce isn't ready to make a final call about possibly retiring by then.
"If Kelce hasn’t made a decision by March 14," Florio added, "the Chiefs could decide to amicably sever the relationship with the understanding that the door is open. Or he could retire and, if he changes his mind, return."
