Travis Kelce addresses retirement rumors after "embarrassing" NFL season
Kansas City, Missouri - Travis Kelce weighed in on his future in the NFL after the tight end and his Kansas City Chiefs suffered an "embarrassing" end to their 2025-26 season.
On Wednesday's episode of New Heights, the 36-year-old admitted that the Chiefs missing the playoffs entirely after competing in last year's Super Bowl was a "tough way to go out".
"You try and look back on it right away and learn from it and even figure out where it all went wrong and how you could've been better on certain situations," he said, adding that it's "an embarrassing feeling, but you keep it moving."
Kansas City lost 14-12 in their matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, leaving their season record at 6-11.
As for whether that game was Travis' last time on the gridiron, as some fans suspect, the Catching Kelce star isn't ready to confirm or deny that just yet.
"I think, yeah, just being a regular human for a couple weeks, maybe a month or so, trying to figure out what I'm gonna do next in terms of my future in football," Travis said.
He added that he'd return "in a heartbeat" if he felt "confident" about being able to handle another potentially lengthy season, but he isn't sure about it at the moment.
Is Travis Kelce retiring from the NFL?
Travis' brother and co-host, Jason, also mentioned recent comments from Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who said he wasn't "buying" the chatter that Travis was done.
"He'll be back next year," he said.
Travis joked that his teammate is "very optimistic," adding, "That's why we love Chris."
With no formal decision made, Travis is prioritizing time with friends and family – and, of course, his fiancée Taylor Swift.
Insiders have alleged that the two are planning to tie the knot in June, which would fall before Chiefs training camp, should Travis choose to return.
Rumors that Travis and the 36-year-old singer are gearing up to settle down for post-retirement life emerged last August, when the pair was spotted house hunting in the athlete's home state of Ohio.
Cover photo: IAN MAULE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

