As rumors continue to swirl over Travis Kelce’s future with the Kansas City Chiefs, one of his teammates believes the tight end will be back with the team next season.
The 35-year-old tight end hasn’t confirmed if he will return for another NFL season after the Chiefs were handed a beating in the Super Bowl by the Philadelphia Eagles, ending their hopes of becoming the first team to win it three years in a row.
As a result speculation continues to mount regarding whether we’ve seen the last of Kelce on the field. However, Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu believes Travis will be back for his 13th NFL season.
“He’s a Hall of Famer from the moment he says, ‘I’m done,’ “ Omenihu said.
“But I think Trav has a lot left. I think Trav is an extreme competitor. I think he’s somebody that loves the game. And 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.
“This would be my message to Trav: ‘Big dog, we – the whole organization – can’t go out like that’.
“So, I believe that he’ll be back.”
This comes after Kelce spoke to Westwood One Sports before the Super Bowl, where he left the door open on Super Bowl LIX being his last game.
“I think I found it all. I just gotta, you know, keep it all,” Kelce said.
“I absolutely love where I am in life. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m enjoying coming in to work and what I do for a profession in my career. And I have an unbelievable support of family and friends who are chasing me down here for yet another Super Bowl.”
What’s next for Kelce?
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Kelce was heard praising friend Patrick Mahomes towards the end of the blowout loss to the Eagles, which some interpreted as a goodbye of sorts.
“Forever dawg. You know that,” Kelce told Mahomes. “I owe you a lot for what you’ve done.”
After the game Kelce cut his media session short before he could be asked about his future, but Mahomes did address it when speaking to reporters.
“Let Travis make that decision on his own,” said Mahomes. “He’s given so much to this team and to the NFL. And he’s been such a joy, not only for me to work with, but for people to watch.”
Kelce is due an $11.5 million roster bonus on March 15, with repots indicating the Chiefs have given him until March 14 to let them know what he plans on doing.
