Travis Kelce’s Teammate Begs Him to Keep Playing with Chiefs Instead of Retiring: ‘Can’t Go Out Like That’

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Ryan Kang/Getty; Timothy T Ludwig/Getty

Ryan Kang/Getty; Timothy T Ludwig/Getty

AsTravis Kelcemulls his future in the NFL, one teammate has a prediction that “he’ll be back.”In a guest spot on FS1’sThe Facility, Chiefs defensive endCharles Omenihusaid he believes the 35-year-old tight end will ultimately decide to return for his 13th season in the league.“He’s a Hall of Famer from the moment he says, ‘I’m done,’ ” Omenihu, 27, said. “But I think Trav has a lot left. I think Trav is an extreme competitor. I think he’s somebody that loves the game. And I think in the storied career that he’s had, going out like that, in my opinion, wouldn’t be something that he would do.”On the eve of Super Bowl 2025, theNew Heightspodcaster offered his own perspective in an interview withWestwood One Sportson Saturday, Feb. 8.”I think I found it all. I just gotta, you know, keep it all,” Kelce said. “I absolutely love where I am in life. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m enjoying coming in to work and what I do for a profession in my career. And I have an unbelievable support of family and friends who are chasing me down here for yet another Super Bowl,” he said.But afterthe Philadelphia Eagles stunned the defending champsand upended the team’s attempt to three-peat, the athlete’s actions sparked retirement talk.Kelce was heard along the sidelinestowards the end of the game praising his good friend and quarterbackPatrick Mahomes.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“Forever dawg. You know that,” Kelce told the signal-caller. “I owe you a lot for what you’ve done.“Kevin Sabitus/GettyAnd while Kelce cut short a session with members of the media after the game before the topic could be raised, Mahomes addressed the question head-on, telling reporters that he would “let Travis make that decision on his own.”“He’s given so much to this team and to the NFL,” Mahomes, 29, said. “And he’s been such a joy, not only for me to work with, but for people to watch.“According toa reportfrom The Athletic, Kelce has until March 14 to tell the team whether he’ll return. On March 15, he’s due an $11.5 million roster bonus.For Omenihu at least, the decision is clear-cut.“This would be my message to Trav: ‘Big dog, we — the whole organization — can’t go out like that,’ ” he said on FS1.Omenihu added, “So, I believe that he’ll be back.”

AsTravis Kelcemulls his future in the NFL, one teammate has a prediction that “he’ll be back.”

In a guest spot on FS1’sThe Facility, Chiefs defensive endCharles Omenihusaid he believes the 35-year-old tight end will ultimately decide to return for his 13th season in the league.

“He’s a Hall of Famer from the moment he says, ‘I’m done,’ ” Omenihu, 27, said. “But I think Trav has a lot left. I think Trav is an extreme competitor. I think he’s somebody that loves the game. And I think in the storied career that he’s had, going out like that, in my opinion, wouldn’t be something that he would do.”

On the eve of Super Bowl 2025, theNew Heightspodcaster offered his own perspective in an interview withWestwood One Sportson Saturday, Feb. 8.

”I think I found it all. I just gotta, you know, keep it all,” Kelce said. “I absolutely love where I am in life. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m enjoying coming in to work and what I do for a profession in my career. And I have an unbelievable support of family and friends who are chasing me down here for yet another Super Bowl,” he said.

But afterthe Philadelphia Eagles stunned the defending champsand upended the team’s attempt to three-peat, the athlete’s actions sparked retirement talk.

Kelce was heard along the sidelinestowards the end of the game praising his good friend and quarterbackPatrick Mahomes.

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

“Forever dawg. You know that,” Kelce told the signal-caller. “I owe you a lot for what you’ve done.”

Kevin Sabitus/Getty

And while Kelce cut short a session with members of the media after the game before the topic could be raised, Mahomes addressed the question head-on, telling reporters that he would “let Travis make that decision on his own.”

“He’s given so much to this team and to the NFL,” Mahomes, 29, said. “And he’s been such a joy, not only for me to work with, but for people to watch.”

According toa reportfrom The Athletic, Kelce has until March 14 to tell the team whether he’ll return. On March 15, he’s due an $11.5 million roster bonus.

For Omenihu at least, the decision is clear-cut.

“This would be my message to Trav: ‘Big dog, we — the whole organization — can’t go out like that,’ ” he said on FS1.

Omenihu added, “So, I believe that he’ll be back.”

source: people.com