On the opening night time media session earlier than Tremendous Bowl LIX, reporters requested tight finish Travis Kelce the place he noticed himself three years from now.
On the time, Kelce left the door large open.
Earlier than the Tremendous Bowl
“The place will I be in three years? Aw, man. I don’t know, hopefully nonetheless taking part in soccer,” he stated. “I like doing this. I like coming into work every single day. I really feel like I acquired lots of good soccer left in me, however we’ll see what occurs. I do know I’ve been setting myself up for different alternatives in my life, and that’s all the time been the aim understanding that soccer solely lasts for therefore lengthy. You bought to discover a technique to get into one other profession, one other career. I’ve been doing that in my offseasons, however for essentially the most half, I plan on being a Kansas Metropolis Chief and taking part in soccer.”
Kelce has constantly put the staff first — and his pre-game solutions mirrored that. By expressing confidence within the soccer he nonetheless had left, he averted turning into a distraction forward of the membership’s largest recreation of the yr.
However on Wednesday, days after the Tremendous Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce struck a distinct tone on his “New Heights” podcast together with his brother, Jason.
Opening up on “New Heights”
“I do know all people needs to know whether or not or not I’m taking part in subsequent yr, and proper now, I’m simply kicking the whole lot down the street,” stated Travis. “I’m kicking each can I can down the street, and I’m not making any loopy selections, however proper now, the largest factor is simply being there for my teammates and being there for my coaches, understanding that there’s quite a bit that goes into this factor.
“I’ve been lucky over the previous five-six years, I’ve performed extra soccer than anyone. It’s due to the individuals in that constructing and the truth that we maintain going to those AFC Championships and these Tremendous Bowls. Which means I’m taking part in an additional three video games greater than all people else in your entire league. That’s lots of put on and tear in your physique, and it’s lots of time spent within the constructing, focusing in your craft, specializing in the duty at hand, each problem that you simply arrange for your self. That course of could be grueling — it will probably weigh on you, it will probably make you higher, and it will probably drive you loopy on the similar time.
Kelce’s math is correct. However thanks to move coach Andy Reid, it’s additionally included playoff video games that predate quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Taking away his lone snap in 2013, Kelce has competed in 11 common seasons and likewise 25 playoff video games — successfully an additional season and a half of decay to his physique.
Kelce added that he didn’t really feel like the identical participant in 2024 that he was in earlier seasons.
“Proper now, it’s a kind of issues the place it was sort of driving me loopy this yr. I feel it occurs as you sort of tail off towards the again 9 of your profession… As you see your self or not really feel your self have the success that you simply as soon as used to have, it’s a tricky capsule to swallow. After which on prime of that, to not being there within the largest moments, understanding your staff is relying on you — it’s a tricky actuality.
“I’m going to take a while to determine it out. I feel I owe it to my teammates if I do come again, it’s a wholehearted resolution. [and] I’m not half-assing it. — I’m totally right here for them. I feel I can play; it’s simply whether or not or not I’m motivated or it’s the very best resolution for me as a person, as a human, as an individual to tackle that accountability.”
My take
Given Kelce’s feedback, I feel it’s obvious that if Kansas Metropolis had received a 3rd straight Tremendous Bowl, he would have definitely known as it a profession.
It didn’t — and now, a participant who has beloved the staff and competitors a lot all through the course of his profession is left with an internal debate of whether or not he needs to exit like that.
The issue is advanced as a result of “not going out like that” calls for one other six-week coaching camp in St. Joseph, 18 weeks of practices and video games, plus (in an ideal world for Chiefs followers) three to 4 playoff matchups.
As Kelce notes, he needs to ensure his coronary heart is in it — as a result of it must be if you happen to’re going to tackle one other grueling seven months.
I actually assume he doesn’t know.
No matter his resolution, it has been a hell of a profession so far; Canton certainly awaits.
