Jason Kelce Says He Thinks Travis Has Already Made Up His Mind About If He'll Retire

Jason Kelce Says He Thinks Travis Has Already Made Up His Mind About If He'll Retire https://ift.tt/d9Z0hjC

"I think he probably, in his heart, already knows what he wants to do," said Jason Kelce on a preview clip of 'The Steam Room' podcast

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Jason and Travis Kelce

• Jason Kelce discussed the status of his brother Travis Kelce's retirement decision, as the Chiefs tight end weighs coming back for another NFL season
• Travis reportedly needs to make a decision by March 14
• Jason told The Steam Room hosts Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson on Friday that he thinks his brother likely knows his choice

As Travis Kelce’s deadline to decide if he wants to retire looms, his brother Jason Kelce thinks he’s already made up his mind. 

“I think Travis, I think he probably, in his heart, already knows what he wants to do,” the Eagles alum, 37, said while speaking with NBA on TNT cohosts Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson of the Kansas City Chief tight end’s pending decision. The clip was a preview of an upcoming episode from the hosts' podcast, The Steam Room, dropping Feb. 21. “That’s the reality of it.”

After Travis and his team lost the 2025 Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 9, fans and adversaries immediately questioned if he would retire after more than 10 years in the NFL. Earlier this month, The Athletic reported that the team needs Travis’ decision by March 14. 

Travis' contract with the Chiefs runs through the 2025 season and includes an $11.5 million roster bonus that is due to him on March 15 if he stays with the team, the outlet reported. The NFL's free agency period begins March 10.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, 29, was asked during a post-Super Bowl press conference if he has spoken to Travis, 35, about whether he will retire from football or return to play another season in the NFL.

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Travis Kelce

Speaking to reporters after the loss, Mahomes said he's going to "let Travis make that decision on his own" after he deserves some well-deserved rest following a long season. 

"He's given so much to this team and to the NFL," the quarterback added of Travis. "And he's been such a joy, not only for me to work with, but for people to watch."

Travis previously opened up about whether or not he’ll return to the NFL next season on the latest episode of New Heights, the podcast he host alongside Jason, which dropped on Feb. 12 — just three days after the team's devastating loss.

“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. I'm not making any crazy decisions,” he said.

Travis also noted that the “biggest thing” for him and his teammates right now is “being there” for each other and “understanding.” 

Related: Travis Kelce Is ‘Leaning’ Toward Playing Another Season with the Chiefs, According to NFL Insider

“I'm gonna take some time to figure it out. And, I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it's a wholehearted decision. I'm not half-assing it, and I'm fully here for them,” he said.

On The Steam Room on Friday, Jason confirmed that his brother helped advise him before he decided to retire from the Eagles last year. He’s confident they’ll do the same as Travis makes his decision. 

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“I’m sure we will talk about it. We’ve already talked about it a little bit, and I’m sure he’s going to go through a process of figuring that out,” Jason told Barkley and Johnson. “We’re very similar people, but we also have different ways of thinking about things. And sometimes I can way over analyze situations, and my brother has this way of being like, ‘Hey man, you want to play or you don’t want to play.’ ”

Jason continued, “He’ll say something like that where it’s just like, don’t worry about all of these minor things. And nine times out of ten, he’s right about all of it.”