After the Super Bowl defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, Travis Kelce is considering retirement. However, the superstar tight end must not leave after the embarrassing performance – a commentary.

The news caused a stir the day before the Super Bowl: “Travis Kelce could play his last NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl,” reported the NFL Network.

And that despite Kelce stating just a few days earlier at the Super Bowl Media Night that he would like to continue for up to three more years. However, the change of heart in the face of a possible three-peat is understandable.

The Kansas City Chiefs could have become the first team since the Super Bowl era to win three titles in a row, Kelce would have retired at the peak of his career and would probably have been remembered as the best tight end in NFL history.

Even though Rob Gronkowski has won more Super Bowls, the statistics clearly favor Kelce. 14,229 receiving yards and 97 receiving touchdowns compare to 10,675 receiving yards and 107 receiving touchdowns. Other numbers also put Kelce far ahead.

But the 22-40 loss to the Eagles changes everything. The way the team was blown out invalidates any arguments Kelce has for retiring. Because, as we all know, narratives in the NFL can change overnight.

The face of Chiefs failure

Suddenly Kelce is no longer associated with historic statistics, but is instead the face of Chiefs failure on the biggest possible stage, alongside Mahomes.

His strong statistics no longer interest anyone. The fact that he broke the record for most receptions in a Super Bowl in the defeat is not even a side note.

On social media, you won’t see any videos of touchdowns or strong catches by the tight end; instead, Kelce is criticized for a lack of commitment or poor blocking.

The latter is particularly bitter in comparison to Gronk, as the long-time star of the New England Patriots was known as one of the best blocking tight ends in NFL history.

In Gronk’s entire career, he never halfassed a block the way Kelce did this onepic.twitter.com/zIKFWdS9GX

— Jerry Thornton (@jerrythornton1) February 10, 2025

This is how the NFL works, it’s a fast-paced business – and Kelce cannot relinquish this perception. He has earned legendary status in the league, especially since the Mahomes era, and has long dominated his position group.

Even though it was clear last season that Kelce was no longer at his peak in terms of play, he still showed that he is Mahomes’ most important target in crucial moments.

With Mahomes anything is possible

At 35, he no longer has to put up dominant numbers. Kelce has nothing left to prove, individually and with the Chiefs the star tight end has achieved everything – only a dignified retirement is still missing.

And he can still get one. With Mahomes at his side, he was in his seventh consecutive AFC Championship Game in 2025, so the semi-finals are virtually guaranteed for Kelce. When Mahomes and Kelce were embarrassed in the Super Bowl against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February 2021, they subsequently celebrated two Super Bowl titles.

The Chiefs are said to have given Kelce until March 14 to make a decision, according to media reports. The date is not randomly chosen; Kansas City needs planning security for free agency, which begins on March 12.

But Kelce shouldn’t take that much time. The 35-year-old is still a top tight end and will be playing for the Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2026.

Leaving with this loss would leave a bad taste in his mouth. And the superstar doesn’t deserve that.

Kelce is not done in the NFL.