11 January 2024 , 23:36
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Travis Kelce has made it clear that he's not planning to retire from the NFL just yet. Despite a dip in his performance this season and rumours sparked by his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift, the 34 year old tight end is determined to keep playing.
Speaking to the Kansas City Star via NBC Sports, Kelce said: "I have no reason to stop playing football man, and I love it. We still have success.
"Come in with the right mindset, and I just love the challenge it gives me every single day to try and be at my best. Like I said, I have no desire to stop anytime soon."
Kelce, who celebrated his 34th birthday last October, shared that he's thought about hanging up his boots but hasn't seriously considered life after football. "I've been fortunate to do a few things outside of the sports world that I've been enjoying doing, like getting on camera," he said.
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"The ['Saturday Night Live'] stuff kind of opened up a new happiness and maybe a new career path for me. But it's funny for me to even say that at this point in my career. I think it's so much further down the road than it is right now."
The Kansas City Chiefs have had a tough season, only winning 11 out of 17 games - their lowest win total since 2017. But they are still chasing a third Super Bowl win with Kelce in their side as they enter the NFL Playoffs.
Their usual powerful offense wasn't as strong, and they ended up 15th in scoring. But their defense was solid, helping them win many games.
Kelce mentioned the challenge of adapting: "It's a new challenge to find ways to get open," he said. "It's a new challenge to find ways to get wins. I think I went up to [defensive end Charles] Omenihu after one game or during one game and said, 'Man, we've just got to become a team that just grinds these games out.'"
Kelce started dating pop superstar Taylor Swift earlier this season (GC Images)Despite being just 16 yards short of renewing his record for the eighth consecutive season, Kelce chose not to compete in the last regular game against the Los Angeles Chargers. On his 'New Heights' Podcast with his brother Jason, also an NFL player, Kelce brushed off any concern about the record.
"No it wasn't even about the record," he said. "I don't give a s**t about the record. It was a record I had broken four times already. "It's cool to have that record but at the same time I've never sat here and said 'If I don't 1000 yards my season was a failure'.
"I already had it in my mind that if I lose a Super Bowl, that's a failure. It just didn't feel right to try and go out there for 16 yards. So I thought I'd just bring the energy on the sideline and let my guys go out there and rock, and sure enough they did."
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