On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs signed a tight end to their offseason roster. The signing comes hours after a podcast episode dropped where Travis Kelce talked about potentially retiring following the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss in the Super Bowl.
“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,” Kelce said on the “New Heights with Jason & Travis” podcast. “I’m kicking every can I can down the road. And I’m not making any crazy decisions, but I right now, the biggest thing is just being there for my teammates and being there for my coaches, understanding that there’s a lot that goes into this thing.
“I’ve been fortunate over the past five, six years, I’ve played more football than anybody. And it’s because the people that are in that building and the fact that we keep going to these AFC championships and these Super Bowls, and that means I’m playing an extra three games more than everybody else in the entire league. And that’s a lot of wear and tear on your body.”
Travis Kelce to take time to mull retirement
Kelce said it would “take some time” to decide if he wanted to return in 2025 after noticing his decline in ability in 2024.
“And I think that it happens as you kind of tail off towards the back nine of your career, as the SVP would say,” Kelce said. “As you see yourself or not feel yourself have the success that you once used to have, man, it’s a tough pill to swallow. And then on top of that, to not be there in the biggest moments, knowing your team’s counting on you, man.
“That’s those are all extremely hard things to…It’s just a tough reality. And, you know, I think I’m going to take some time to figure it out. And I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, that it’s going to be something that it’s a wholehearted decision and I’m not half-assing it. And I’m fully here for them. And I think I could play. It’s just whether or not I’m motivated or it’s the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility.”
Kansas City Chiefs sign Anthony Firkser
A few hours later, the Chiefs signed tight end Anthony Firkser, per the league’s transaction wire
The New York Jets signed Firkser as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He spent time with the Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, and Detroit Lions. The Harvard standout played with the Jets and Chiefs in 2024.
At 29, the native of Manalapan Township, New Jersey has appeared in 78 games and started in four. The six-foot-2, 241-pound athlete has recorded 115 receptions for 1,207 yards and five touchdowns in his seven-year NFL career.
Firkser appeared in three games for the Chiefs in 2024 but recorded no stats. He’ll provide depth in the tight ends room if Kelce retires this spring.
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