Travis Kelce reveals $1.8bn retirement decision but plan wrecked amid ‘letting down’ Andy Reid

Travis Kelce may suit up just one more time for the Kansas City Chiefs as he contemplates bidding farewell to the NFL.The Kansas City Chiefs have just one game remaining of the 2025 NFL season.

What is poignant about the Chiefs’ Week 18 trip to Allegiant Stadium where they will take on the Las Vegas Raiders is that it could very well be the final time that Travis Kelce takes to an NFL field.

4

Kelce may have just one game remaining in his NFL careerCredit: Getty
Now 36-years-old and coming toward the end of his 13th year in the league, the speculation of a possible retirement has surged in recent weeks.

In the Chiefs’ 20-13 Christmas Day defeat to the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium, Kelce recorded just five receptions for 36 yards in what many believed could be his final home game.

Travis Kelce reveals Powerball prize retirement plan – but there’s one issue

Following the game, when asked by a reporter if the 11-time Pro Bowler if that would be his final game on home turf, Kelce opted to use the opportunity to play around with the media.

“No. The only time it ever crossed my mind was when I was driving in the other day and I saw how much the Powerball was and I was like ‘man, if I could just win that,’ wouldn’t have to work another day in my life.'” Kelce said with a huge grin.

“No, man. Honestly, I’ve just been focused on trying to win football games man. I let that be a decision that I make with my family, friends, the Chiefs organization when the time comes.”

Whilst there was a huge Powerball prize offering this festive season in the region of $1.8 billion, Kelce’s retirement plans were wrecked over the festive period with the announcement that one lucky person in Arkansas has already hit the jackpot.

A single Powerball ticket sold at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, Arkansas, matched all six numbers in Monday’s drawing, winning the second largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history.

The winner, who matched all six numbers — 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and red Powerball 19 — can choose between annual payments or a lump sum of $834.9 million before taxes.

They have 180 days to claim their prize and can remain anonymous if they wish.

However, Kelce need not fear after missing out, because there’s the small detail of his soon-to-be wife Taylor Swift boasting a net worth of an estimated $1.6 billion, far more than Kelce’s career earnings of $111 million.

Kelce candidly speaks of Andy Reid, says he ‘let him down’

Ahead of the festive matchup which ended in defeat, fans thought they had spotted a subtle indicator of a farewell from Kelce to the fans and the place that he has called home for 13 years.

4

Kelce sat down with Tony Gonzalez before the Christmas Day game against the BroncosCredit: X/PRIME VIDEO

4

Kelce spoke about how he feels he has let down his head coach this seasonCredit: Getty

4

Kelce has teased his retirement over the past 12 monthsCredit: Getty
This came as he entered the stadium dressed in a Fear of Gods Essentials Chiefs hoodie, as opposed to a bold pregame outfit that fans have become accustomed to seeing from him over the years.

With much of the pre-game broadcast on Prime being centered around Kelce and whether he will or won’t retire at the end of the 2025 campaign, the network aired a sit-down interview with the Kansas City tight end and a fellow Chiefs all-time great in Tony Gonzalez.

There, the pair discussed the three-time Super Bowl winner’s career in Kansas City, and also dissected what has been a largely difficult campaign for the team, having failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and seeing quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffer a devastating ACL injury.

But Kelce – who may have now played his final game with his quarterback – also candidly shared how he feels he has let down his head coach Andy Reid this season, whose future with the team has also been questioned of late.

“It’s frustrating man,” Kelce told Gonzalez in the sit-down interview shown pre-game. “It’s frustrating.

“I feel like I can’t even look my guy, Coach Andy Reid, in his eyes right now just because I feel like I disappoint him or I just let him down in some way, somehow, throughout the year.

“That’s my fearless leader. I just feel like it’s my job to go out there and make it happen and that’s kind of the pride that I’ve always played with, especially playing for him, knowing how hard he works and how prepared he always is.

“I don’t know. I just feel like you’ve got to look yourself in the mirror and put the biggest expectations on yourself to be able to get it done. I know that’s not always realistic.”