On Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs began the last of their offseason practices before their ring ceremony Thursday night. One player who remains in the spotlight, Travis Kelce, made it clear he has no plans to retire anytime soon.
You can say many things about Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Travis Kelce, but one thing you will never be able to debate is his love and passion for football. Later this year, the future first-ballot hall of famer will turn 35, and he has no plans to hang up the cleats.
Kelce spoke to the media today, and despite the nuggets that girlfriend Taylor Swift makes great homemade Pop Tarts and Cinnamon Rolls, the three-time Super Bowl Champion just brought out his natural charm and love for the game.
“I’m going to do it till the wheels fall off, and hopefully, that doesn’t happen anytime soon,” Kelce said.
While the Chief’s tight end could easily coast through the off-season, his unwavering work ethic in practice is a testament to his character. His unique personality may be one of a kind, but it’s his relentless dedication to his craft that truly shines.
For Kelce, it’s not just about the accolades. Despite his back-to-back Super Bowl wins, and the time he cherishes with his family and Swift, his constant pursuit of learning and evolving is a testament to his dedication to the sport.
“I’m still a little kid when I come into this building,” Kelce said Tuesday.
Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker Drue Tranquill commented today that guys at that point in his career don’t always go full speed at that age or with his success to date. Going up against him as a member of the Chargers, Tranquill admitted he lost many times to him on the battlefield.
As his teammate, he watches how badly he wants to compete and what drives him to continue playing football at the highest level.
“There’s a championship culture here…it’s very apparent. Guys like Travis are going into his 12th year, and he loves to practice. That’s uncommon,” said Tranquill.
Listening to Kelce today, I had to sit back and see the gleam in his eye and his comfort as an NFL superstar and a Paparazzi favorite; I wish I were that comfortable in my skin.
Yes, he’s dating Swift and has made millions playing the game he loves, but I can show you plenty of NFL players through the years who don’t appreciate the moment and don’t understand that you must prepare for life after football.
Kelce could retire from the game right now, enter the NFL Hall of Fame in five years, make movies, and follow Swift around from venue to venue. Yet, though he’s got the acting bug, and his New Heights Podcast is tops in the USA, the Chiefs remain front and center.
So, when he mentioned that he intended to play until the “wheels come off,” he meant that he would keep playing football until his body could no longer take the punishment.
The Kansas City Chiefs are approaching history. Kelce said they don’t talk about becoming the first NFL team to win three Super Bowls in a row, but he might be fibbing (just a little).
Running Back, Isiah Pacheco was asked the same thing, and he said they do. As Kelce noted, he gets asked the question more during the interview process, but that’s probably second to answering carefully about his girlfriend.
Regardless of how long Kelce remains in the NFL and runs out of the tunnel at Arrowhead Stadium, I’m just grateful he’s not in the kitchen full-time with Swift making Pop-Tarts and Cinnamon Rolls!
What a great time to be Travis Kelce and a Chiefs fan!
