Travis Kelce Says Retirement ‘Didn’t Cross My Mind One Bit’ After Chiefs' Repeat Super Bowl Win

Mar. 15, 2025

Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.Photo:Perry Knotts/Getty

Perry Knotts/Getty

Travis Kelceis looking to make NFL history before he calls it a career in the league.Kelce, 34, made an appearance on theRich Eisen Showon Tuesday, Sept. 3, whereEisenasked the Kansas City Chiefs tight end if he considered retiring after the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl win in February.“It didn’t cross my mind one bit,” Kelce replied. Instead, he said, the opportunity to make history as a member of the only NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls was his first thought.“I think the excitement of the challenge of this year, being able to maybe do it a third time in a row, I think that alone was all I needed,” he said. “That was an instant thought, so there was really not a chance in hell that I wasn’t coming back this year.“Kelce told Eisen that the possibility for a third consecutive championship alongsidePatrick Mahomeswas a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.“Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.David Eulitt/GettyThe Chiefs were defeated in all three of their preseason matchups before they kick off the regular season on Sept. 5, but Kelce told Eisen he’s “still enjoying coming to work” every day with the team.TheAre You Smarter Than a Celebrity?host said during practices he’s often thought about something former NFL star Julian Edelman told him. “He was mentioning, you know, he had to hang it up when he couldn’t go out there and practice, he couldn’t get out there and work on his craft to feel like he’s accountable for the guys next to him, and that’s when he kind of started questioning it,” Kelce said of the former New England Patriot.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I’m just having so much fun, you know, just so appreciative and so fortunate that I’ve been able to come into year 12 and still have this energy and this love and the ability to go out there and get to work,” Kelce continued.And with Kelce still breaking records in the NFL, it’s fitting that he wouldn’t want to hang up his cleats just yet.Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.Kevin Sabitus/GettyOn Aug. 27, the tight end was named thePolsinelli Sportsman of the Yearat the Kansas City Sports Awards for his achievement in becoming the NFL’s career leader in postseason receptions after the Super Bowl.“I’ve been here 12 years and I love the support,” he said in his acceptance speech, as seen in avideoshared on X (formerly known as Twitter).“That’s why I came out tonight,” Kelce continued at the ceremony, “to make sure you guys see the face of the people that love you guys just as much as you love them.”

Travis Kelceis looking to make NFL history before he calls it a career in the league.

Kelce, 34, made an appearance on theRich Eisen Showon Tuesday, Sept. 3, whereEisenasked the Kansas City Chiefs tight end if he considered retiring after the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl win in February.

“It didn’t cross my mind one bit,” Kelce replied. Instead, he said, the opportunity to make history as a member of the only NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls was his first thought.

“I think the excitement of the challenge of this year, being able to maybe do it a third time in a row, I think that alone was all I needed,” he said. “That was an instant thought, so there was really not a chance in hell that I wasn’t coming back this year.”

Kelce told Eisen that the possibility for a third consecutive championship alongsidePatrick Mahomeswas a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.David Eulitt/Getty

David Eulitt/Getty

The Chiefs were defeated in all three of their preseason matchups before they kick off the regular season on Sept. 5, but Kelce told Eisen he’s “still enjoying coming to work” every day with the team.

TheAre You Smarter Than a Celebrity?host said during practices he’s often thought about something former NFL star Julian Edelman told him. “He was mentioning, you know, he had to hang it up when he couldn’t go out there and practice, he couldn’t get out there and work on his craft to feel like he’s accountable for the guys next to him, and that’s when he kind of started questioning it,” Kelce said of the former New England Patriot.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I’m just having so much fun, you know, just so appreciative and so fortunate that I’ve been able to come into year 12 and still have this energy and this love and the ability to go out there and get to work,” Kelce continued.

And with Kelce still breaking records in the NFL, it’s fitting that he wouldn’t want to hang up his cleats just yet.

Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.Kevin Sabitus/Getty

Kevin Sabitus/Getty

On Aug. 27, the tight end was named thePolsinelli Sportsman of the Yearat the Kansas City Sports Awards for his achievement in becoming the NFL’s career leader in postseason receptions after the Super Bowl.

“I’ve been here 12 years and I love the support,” he said in his acceptance speech, as seen in avideoshared on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“That’s why I came out tonight,” Kelce continued at the ceremony, “to make sure you guys see the face of the people that love you guys just as much as you love them.”

source: people.com