Despite rumors, the three-time Super Bowl champion may not be retiring just yet&mdash;but the decision has yet to be made.&nbsp;

Travis Kelce is no stranger to the spotlight, but this year has proven especially big for the NFL champion. Between a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/celebrities-super-bowl-lix-taylor-swift-ice-spice-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Super Bowl</a> win to start out the year and an <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/taylor-swift-and-travis-kelce-engaged-photos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">engagement</a> to one of the world's biggest pop stars in the latter half, Kelce is at the top, to be sure. As of late, though, rumors have begun swirling around the sports world and Swiftie fan pages alike, putting forth the idea that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end may be nearing retirement.&nbsp;
Kelce is a top performer in the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/highest-paid-nfl-players-richest-highest-contract-ranking-net-worth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NFL</a>, to be sure&mdash;he's widely considered one of the best receivers in the league, and he has the stats to back it up. Plus, with his charismatic personality, name recognition, and buzzy media presence, he brings plenty of assets to the Chiefs off the field as well. But, at 36, Kelce is reaching the age where many <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/most-handsome-nfl-quarterbacks-young-nfl-quarterbacks-jayden-daniels-jj-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pro football players</a> begin to seriously consider retirement&mdash;across the league, the average NFL retirement age is around 27 years old, per a study by <a href="https://www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/en-us/insights/professional-athletes-need-a-retirement-game-plan#:~:text=That%20means%20the%20average%20professional,and%2027.6%20for%20NFL%20players." target="_blank" rel="noopener">RBC Wealth Management</a>.&nbsp;
Kelce spoke out about the rumors in a press conference on Nov. 21, stating that he had been considering how his brother, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/kylie-kelce-jason-kelce-wife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Kelce</a>, recently retired from the league at the age of 36.
"You know, seeing my brother go through it and seeing...just how the league works, the season kind of restarts in April, and I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity to know whether I come back or not," Kelce said, per&nbsp;<a href="https://people.com/travis-kelce-talks-retirement-if-chiefs-would-want-me-back-11854907" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a>.&nbsp;
The football star&mdash;currently on a $34.25 million contract with the Chiefs&mdash;added that the decision goes both ways.&nbsp;
"Whether [the team] wants me back or not, it's one of those things where I'd like to make that decision before they've got to get draft picks and free agency opens up," he said.&nbsp;
"So, all of that will be at the end of the season and I won't be thinking about it until then," he concluded.
As of November 2025, Kelce is scheduled to enter the draft as a free agent next year, meaning he's free to sign with any team, or as the case may be, retire altogether.&nbsp;

Getty Images.

Beyond his age, Kelce has stated that he's entering a new era of his life with his fianc&eacute;e, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-relationship-timeline-dating-football-chiefs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taylor Swift</a>. The pair are reportedly already in the throes of wedding planning&mdash;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/15529450/taylor-swift-rhode-island-mansion-wedding-travis-kelce-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a>, the couple is eyeing Swift's massive Rhode Island mansion as a prime venue. According to sources close to Swift and Kelce&mdash;and the pop star's own lyrics from her latest album,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl-upcoming-tour-concerts-hiatus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Life of A Showgirl</a>&mdash;they're also planning on settling down together after they're married, meaning a retirement from the busy schedule and potential injuries that life as an NFL player tends to include.&nbsp;

Travis Kelce Says He Plans To Decide On Retirement By 'Early March' 2026

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