Travis Kelce says he and the Kansas City Chiefs are aligned on what comes next. At least for now.
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Speaking Wednesday on the "New Heights" podcast, Kelce said he has already had conversations with team officials as part of the exit process and that everyone understands where he stands as he weighs whether to continue playing following Kansas City's elimination from the playoff race.
"I've talked to a few people in the facility already, having the exit meetings, and they know where I stand at least right now," Kelce said. "There's a lot of love for the game that's still there. I don't think I'll ever lose that. It's a tough thing to navigate, but if my body can heal up and rest up and I feel like I can go out there and give it another run, I'd do it in a heartbeat."
For now, Kelce said the plan is to step away and decompress.
"I'm just going to put my feet up and be a human," he said. "I've been putting my body through the wringer for the love of it. Just being a regular human for a few weeks, maybe a month, and then trying to figure out what I'm going to do next in terms of my future in football."
The Chiefs finished 6-11, a jarring drop for a team accustomed to deep postseason runs. The season unraveled further when quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn ACL in a Week 15 loss to the Chargers.
Kelce addressed that moment directly when prompted by his older brother, Jason Kelce, who retired after last season.
"It was a tough season," Kelce said. "It ended even worse when my guy went down. We finished with a lot of guys banged up. It's a tough way to go out when you're used to a certain standard. You try to learn from it and figure out what you could've done better."
Kelce admitted the year left a lasting sting, especially given his history of success.
"It's kind of an embarrassing feeling," he said. "Not making the playoffs for the first time since 2014. But you keep it moving. I still love the game. I'll be tuned into the playoffs. I'll just be around friends and family instead of trying to win in January."
Off the field, Kelce is entering a different chapter. He and his fiancée, Taylor Swift, announced their engagement in August and are expected to get married this summer.
Kelce's final game of the season, and possibly his career, came Jan. 4 in a road loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
