NFLTravis Kelce Gets Deadline from Kansas City Chiefs to Make Decision About Retirement:

NFLTravis Kelce Gets Deadline from Kansas City Chiefs to Make Decision About Retirement:

The Athletic’ reported Thursday, Feb. 13, that Kelce will have to make a decision by March 14 about whether or not he will retire from the NFL

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts on the field before Super Bowl LIX
Kelce at the Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
Travis Kelce is still deciding whether he will return to the NFL for another season following the Chiefs’ defeat at the Super Bowl — and the Kansas City team has reportedly given him a deadline to make up his mind.

Following its loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at this year’s Super Bowl LIX, The Athletic reported on Thursday, Feb. 13, that the Chiefs want to know if Kelce, 35, will be retiring.

The tight end has by March 14 — or a month to decide — whether or not he’ll continue his career in the NFL.

Rumors of Kelce’s potential retirement sparked soon after last Sunday’s game ended with the Chief’s tough 40-22 loss to the Eagles. The Chiefs had entered the game as the 4-time and reigning Super Bowl champions.

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Kelce during Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.
Related: Travis Kelce Gets Emotional as He Says He Has a ‘Beautiful Life’ with ‘Loved Ones’ Outside of Super Bowl Loss

Kelce’s contract with the Chiefs runs through the 2025 season and includes an $11.5 million roster bonus that is due March 15, the outlet reported. The NFL’s free agency period begins March 10.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, 29, was asked during a post-Super Bowl press conference if he has spoken to Kelce about whether he will retire from football or return to play another season in the NFL.

Speaking to reporters after the loss, Mahomes said he’s going to “let Travis make that decision on his own” after he deserves some well-deserved rest following a long season.

“He’s given so much to this team and to the NFL,” the quarterback added of Kelce. “And he’s been such a joy, not only for me to work with, but for people to watch.”

Kelce previously opened up about whether or not he’ll return to the NFL next season on the latest episode of New Heights, the podcast he presents alongside his brother, Eagles alum Jason Kelce, which dropped on Wednesday, Feb. 12 — just three days after the team’s devastating loss.

“I know everybody wants to know whether or not I’m playing next year, and right now, I’m just kicking everything down the road. I’m not making any crazy decisions,” he said.

Travis Kelce attends the NFL Honors at University of Minnesota
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Kelce attends the NFL honors in 2018.
He also noted that the “biggest thing” for him and his teammates right now is “being there” for each other and “understanding.”

“I’m gonna take some time to figure it out. And, I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it’s a wholehearted decision. I’m not half-assing it, and I’m fully here for them,” he said.

Elsewhere during the episode, Kelce reflected on how he, Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs made some “mistakes” on the field that led to their loss.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Related: How Much Does Travis Kelce Make? Inside the NFL Player’s Net Worth and Earnings (From Football, Podcasts and Beyond!)

“It wasn’t the play calls, it was a cumulative effort of everybody just not finding a way to get it done, man,” Kelce said of the game.

“And to happen on the biggest stage sucks, but to have it happen for the second time in my career on the biggest stage, man, it’s a tough pill to swallow. It’s a hard reality, man,” he went on, getting visibly choked up. The Chiefs lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020’s Super Bowl LV.

Despite his difficulties during the Super Bowl, Kelce has had a historic run in the NFL thus far, becoming the third all-time tight end in career receptions with 1,004, as well as third in receiving yards with 12,151, The Athletic reported. He also comes in fifth for all-time career receiving touchdowns with 77.