Chiefs' TE Travis Kelce (87) - Erick W. Rsaco/Sports Illustrated
Football fans have been waiting to discuss this topic since the beginning of the regular season.
It’s about time the Kansas City Chiefs’ management took the reins and gave the great but lately struggling tight end the decision to play or retire.
Should He Retire? The Chiefs Finally Take Charge
Kelce had an amazing career, but the Chiefs must ensure they put their organization first. According to Nate Taylor and Cale Clinton of The Athletic:
“If Kelce chooses to retire, the Chiefs, as they head into an intriguing offseason, want to know of his decision around March 14, according to a team source. Based on the deadline, the Chiefs are going to give Kelce a month to decide his future.”
Additionally, he is due an $11.5 million roster bonus, scheduled for March 15, which should play a major role in his decision.
Reasons for the Deadline
But lately, there may be some “Bad Blood” between the Chiefs organization and the superstar. The Chiefs failed their quest for the NFL’s first three-peat in this year’s Super Bowl.
They were maliciously outplayed by the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line and lost 40-22. The Eagles’ entire front four should have all earned the MVP, but that might be a discussion for another day.
It doesn’t surprise me that they wanted to take charge with Kelce. While he’s been the glue to their Super Bowl runs, he was a no-show for the entire regular season.
That’s because Mr. “Two Things at Once” couldn’t have been on the practice fields in Kansas City and also be partying with Taylor Swift elsewhere at the same time.
Should He Stay or Should He Go?
The tight end has stated that he will take some time to weigh his options. He should be thankful the Chiefs’ organization is giving him that opportunity right now.
“I know everybody wants to know whether or not I’m playing next year,” he said during Wednesday’s New Heights podcast with his brother, retired NFL center Jason Kelce. “Right now I am just kicking everything down the road. I am kicking every can I can down the road. I’m not making any crazy decisions, but right now, the biggest thing is just being there for my teammates and being there for my coaches, understanding that there’s a lot that goes into this thing.”
But all signs point towards him choosing to retire, and rather, “Swiftly.”
What it Shows for NFL Ratings when Taylor Swift Attends Chiefs Games
Of course, we can’t talk about Kelce’s impact on the field without impacting the ratings. And who has affected those ratings? Miss Swift.
The Era’s Tour singer has been a reason for the NFL’s ratings increase. One particular demographic is young women between the ages of 18 and 24.
Before Swift’s impact on the game, not many of these women were watching the NFL.
But in Super Bowl VIII, when the Chiefs won in OT over the San Fransisco 49ers, women 18-24 had a 24% increase in viewership because she was there, and the cameras showed her after almost every Kelce play.
The question is now, if Kelce retires, will those same women tune in? Especially if Swift is not in a suite watching the Kelce-proof Chiefs? When you’re a Swiftie, you’ll go wherever or tune in wherever she will be next.
Signs of Slowing Down
During the 2024 NFL season, Kelce slowed down slightly from his previous seasons. While he remained one of Patrick Mahomes‘ go-to guys, he caught 97 passes for a career-low 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
These numbers were the lowest since his rookie year in 2013, and his Super Bowl numbers were even worse. He only made four catches for 39 yards, a drop, and many miscalculated routes.
Once again, credit goes out to the Eagles’ defensive line, which all deserved MVP.
Conclusion
The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t playing around with their aging tight end. The 35-year-old has lived a pretty good life these past few years.
Overall, Kelce has won three Super Bowls and made the Pro Bowl ten times during his long career. His personal life has been superb, and he gained more fame for dating pop star Swift.
He also co-hosts a very successful podcast with his brother Jason, who retired last season. With all this going for him, we will all have to wait a little longer to see his decision.
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