The Super Bowl 59 loss still stings for Kansas City Chiefs fans but coming to the slow realization that the blowout loss might have been Travis Kelce's final game in the NFL is another tough pill to swallow.
Kelce looked dejected during the game and, despite saying in the lead-up to Super Bowl 59 that he plans to continue playing, took on a different tone following the loss. Kelce didn't speak with the media right after the game (at least not at the podium) and we didn't hear his thoughts on potentially retiring until his New Heights podcast post-Super Bowl episode dropped on Wednesday.
It was during that podcast where Kelce revealed he might have had a change of heart during the 40-22 loss and that he's going to need some time to think about what he wants to do.
To pour gasoline on the fire as far as the Kelce retirement rumors are concerned, a recent clip of Kelce and Patrick Mahomes talking on the sideline during the game has surfaced and it doesn't bode well for those who want Kelce to stick around for one more year.
"Love you, brother," Mahomes said.
"I owe you a lot for what you've done," Kelce responded.
Travis Kelce's conversation with Patrick Mahomes made it sound like he's ready to retire
This could have just been an emotional in-the-moment conversation between two close friends and teammates but it's hard to imagine Kelce saying something like this if he truly thought he was going to return and play for another year.
That being said, Kelce does have a huge reason to be thankful for Mahomes. While Alex Smith helped lead the Chiefs to winning seasons and playoff appearances, they weren't the threat that they are now. Mahomes took this team from playoff contender to Super Bowl contender every year and Kelce has reaped the benefits of that, winning three rings in the last six years.
Chiefs fans would love it if Kelce returned for another season but if this is it, we're lucky we got to watch him ball out for as long as we did.
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