Travis Kelce has confirmed he’s nonetheless pondering retirement from NFL after probably taking part in his final residence sport for Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
The Chiefs tight finish solely had 5 catches for 36 yards of their 20-13 defeat to Denver Broncos, taking part in alongside third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun as Patrick Mahomes and backup Gardner Minshew have been out with knee accidents.
However a number of of these catches got here within the closing minutes, almost rallying Kansas Metropolis in what would have been a shocking upset of the Broncos.
The four-time All-Professional, who is predicted to announce quickly after the season whether or not he’s retiring, might have hung up the cleats a few weeks in the past, when the reigning AFC champions have been eradicated from playoff rivalry for the primary time in a decade.
As a substitute, after going to 5 Tremendous Bowls – together with the final three – and profitable three championship rings, the 36-year-old Kelce confirmed that he had an excessive amount of pleasure to give up on a misplaced season.
He performed in a humiliating loss to lowly Tennessee final week, and was one of many few vivid spots on Christmas Day for an offense that completed with 139 yards in all.
“A whole lot of emotions. You’ve got everybody in the world watching you,” mentioned Kelce.
“You get to go out there with the young guys on primetime television. Young guys getting an opportunity to taste what this NFL life is like.”
Requested if he had performed his final residence sport, he added: “I’ll let that be a decision I’ll make with my family, friends, the Chiefs organisation when the time comes.”
Kelce was the ultimate participant launched on Thursday evening, following Oladokun out of the tunnel within the nook of Arrowhead Stadium.
As purple lights flashed throughout the sphere, Kelce emerged from the fog together with his signature bow-and-arrow entrance gesture towards a festive vacation crowd, and it predictably roared in delight – maybe for the final time – as No 87 took the sphere.
Kelce has performed 97 video games at Arrowhead Stadium over the course of a 13-year profession
“You only get a few of those [moments] where you get to stand there and appreciate 70,000 Chiefs fans cheering for you. I always embrace that moment,” he mentioned.
“You feel the generations of happiness and the love that [the fans] have. It’s a beautiful thing, man. It’s something I know I’ll cherish forever, whether it’s coming out of the tunnel or just making a big play for them. That’s why we love Arrowhead.”
Kelce has performed 97 video games contained in the stadium over the course of a 13-year profession. He caught 645 passes there, together with playoffs, the third-most by any participant inside a single stadium behind Jerry Rice and Larry Fitzgerald because the AFL-NFL merger.
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The very best performs to this point this season, the link-up between Patrick Mahomes and Kelce for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Now, the query is whether or not Kelce will play subsequent week within the Chiefs’ season finale in Las Vegas. He wants simply 10 yards receiving to achieve 13,000 for his profession, and he might lengthen his franchise report – and the longest lively streak within the NFL – by catching a move in his 191st sport.
He might additionally exit with a win, relatively than having misplaced 5 straight and 7 of his final eight video games, which is the slide the Chiefs discover themselves on now. Or, possibly he’ll shock everybody and are available again for another yr.
“We’ve been through so much together,” Chiefs defensive deal with Chris Jones mentioned, making his want clear. “Just one more [season]. Just one more.”
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