Following the outcome of the Superbowl, the Kansas City Chiefs faced a devastating 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. This loss has left many athletes questioning whether they should continue their careers in the league, including Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Chiefs.  

After playing in the NFL for over 12 years, Travis Kelce has established a legacy for himself as a football player.  Kelce has played for the Chiefs his entire career, and helped them win the Superbowl in 2020, 2023, and 2024. Also, he participated in 10 Pro-Bowls and four first-team All-Pros. Despite his success over the past few years, Kelce shared in a recent NBC article that “[It’s] a lot of wear and tear on your body and it’s a lot of time spending in the building, focusing on your craft, focusing on the task at hand and every challenge that you set up for yourself.” 

Many elite athletes, including Kelce, struggle with mental toughness after suffering an intense loss in championships. Upsets happen all the time, and many people know that an outcome of a game is never guaranteed. However, the amount of football that Kelce has played seems to be weighing on his mental and physical health. Since the Chiefs continued to advance into the playoffs, additional games have been tough on Kelce’s health due to mental preparation and physical recovery.  

Prior to the Super Bowl, many NBC reporters shared that Kelce was “undecided” about continuing his career. Currently, he is still unsure about his decision since he only has one year remaining on his contract. By leaving the NFL now, it will force the Chiefs to adapt their team because of his reliability and strong leadership on the field. 

Overall, this decision causes major discomfort for the Chiefs and their fans, as his departure will create uncertainty for the success of the team. His decision should be posted before the new league begins on March 12.