Travis Kelce's return to 2025 NFL season could hinge on Kansas City Chiefs' result in Super Bowl LIX

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: For the third time in his storied career, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce found himself fielding the same question in the days leading up to a Super Bowl, how much longer will he play?

The 35-year-old had answered it before, each time with a grin, each time with a confident nod to the future, however this time, there was an air of uncertainty in his words, as per the NFL.

Travis Kelce undecided about returning for 2025 NFL season

Travis Kelce, arguably one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, has yet to make up his mind about the 2025 season.

Those close to him hint that his decision might hinge on how things play out during Super Bowl LIX.

A win could be the perfect send-off, a storybook ending that few athletes ever get. A loss? Well, that could be the fuel he needed to run it back for one more year.

On Super Bowl Opening Night, the 35-year-old said, "Hopefully still playing football. I love doing this. I love coming into work every day. I feel like I still got a lot of good football left in me."

And then, almost as if he was reminding himself of his own reality, he added, "We'll see what happens. I know I've been setting myself up for other opportunities in my life. That's always been the goal, knowing that football only lasts for so long."

For most players, an 823-yard season with three touchdowns would be a career highlight but, for Kelce, it was a statistical dip—his lowest numbers since his rookie year in 2013.

But if anyone thought he had lost a step, his 117-yard, one-touchdown performance in the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans reminded the world that when the lights shined brightest, Kelce still delivered.

"Sources informed of his thinking say Kelce's decision could hinge on the results of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted.

Rapoport continued, "A win would make the Chiefs the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls, allowing Kelce to walk off into the sunset in a way almost no one gets to do. A loss could fuel him to return for the 2025 season, but it also could show him it's time."

Travis Kelce faces a career crossroads

Travis Kelce isn't just a football star but also a pop culture force.

His 'New Heights' podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce, had exploded into a phenomenon, pulling in millions of listeners and becoming a lucrative business.

He had already dipped into Hollywood, starring in FX's horror series 'Grotesquerie' in 2024, hosting 'Saturday Night Live' in 2023, and fronting 'Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?' on Prime Video.

Then there is the financial angle. Kecle's base salary for 2025 sits at $4.5 million, with an $11.5 million roster bonus due on March 14, meaning he could potentially earn more off the field after retirement than if he continues to play.

Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans is more than just another championship game for Kelce as it places him at a potential crossroads.

A Chiefs win would make them the first team in NFL history to claim three consecutive Super Bowl titles. If Kelce decides to hang up his boots after the potential win, he will exit on top.