Travis Kelce's Post-AFC Title Comment Is Both Unlikely and Encouraging

While Travis Kelce's overall profile experienced a meteoric rise this offseason, he's long been a star within NFL circles. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end arrived at Arrowhead in 2013 and truly came into his own a few years later. The team has improved during that time, but No. 87 has been a constant. His unique blend of size, skill and athleticism makes him the perfect target in virtually any situation—he's a safety valve and a game-breaker, wrapped into one package.

But everyone, even the game's biggest stars, is still human. And Father Time will eventually win the race.

During the 2023 campaign, Chiefs fans got a glimpse of life without Kelce. The tight end missed Week 1 with a knee injury, and both he and the entire offense seemed out of sync during the regular season. Add a new, high-profile relationship and comments about how professional football has taken a toll on his body, and some were fearing the worst.

The rumors of Kansas City's demise were greatly exaggerated. Three strong playoff performances have the defending champs back in the Super Bowl, and Kelce has more than played his part in those wins. The tight end scored two touchdowns in the divisional round against Buffalo and exploded in Baltimore, pulling in 11 catches for 116 yards and a score.

And, while celebrating that AFC title, No. 87 uttered the words that sounded like a dream come true for everyone wearing red, white and gold.

In a clip shared by the NFL on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Patrick Mahomes remarked that winning "never gets old." Kelce responded "It makes you feel younger, baby. I could do this for another 11 years."

Could you chalk those words up to unbridled emotion? Of course, but No. 87 didn't sound like someone who was getting ready to hang it up and retire.

It goes without saying that Kelce's continued presence in Kansas City is a boon for the Chiefs. While the 2023 regular season proved that he and Mahomes can't keep the offense afloat, the tight end does make everyone else's life easier. He's good enough to draw defensive attention, creating space for other receivers while still possessing the talent to find dead spots and make things happen for himself. Losing him would be a massive statistical loss and give the rest of the offense a tougher matchup.

But while having the Cincinnati product around for another decade may sound like a dream, it's simply not realistic. Kelce is currently 34, and he will turn 35 during the 2024 campaign. He also has more than 150 games of wear and tear on his metaphorical tires. Even if there's a gradual decline, the tight end is going to slow down. And that's not even considering the human side of things. Remember, Rob Gronkowski's first retirement came in the context of physical and mental pain.

"I love all my fans. I love Patriots fans. I feel that love, but I want to be clear to my fans: I needed to recover. Football was bringing me down, and I didn't like it," Gronkowski said at the time. "I was losing the joy in life."

To be clear, Kelce doesn't seem to be near that point, but he has spoken about feeling the bumps and bruises from more than a decade of playing football. That grind isn't going to ease as he gets older. And if you believe his 2023 production was affected by the early knee injury (which could be supported by his postseason performances after a week off), then those aches and pains will represent real obstacles.

With each passing season, the specter of Kelce's decline and retirement will loom large. The challenge of replacing a top-tier receiving threat, especially one who has a near-psychic connection with Mahomes, can't be overlooked. Kansas City will never find a direct successor for No. 87, and it's going to take some time to adjust to having a normal tight end in the lineup.

But, right now, Kelce is still strutting his stuff and lifting trophies. If you're a Chiefs fan, that's a pretty nice consolation prize ahead of an inevitable and painful goodbye.