If you think Travis Kelce is considering retirement, think again.

Rumors about the tight end stepping away have circulated for years, especially as the Kansas City Chiefs maintain their winning streak. It would certainly surprise many if Kelce chose to retire while the team is thriving, but at 35, he has already begun preparing for life beyond football.

With numerous business endeavors and his ongoing romance with Taylor Swift, few would fault him if he decided to leave the game.

However, his attention for now and in the foreseeable future remains on the sport. During the opening night of the Super Bowl, Kelce was asked about his aspirations for the next three years.

“Hopefully still playing football,” Kelce responded. “I love doing this, and I enjoy coming to work every day. I feel like I have a lot of great football ahead of me. We’ll see what unfolds. I’ve been preparing for other career opportunities in my life. That’s always been my aim since I know football won’t last forever. It’s crucial to have a plan for transitioning into a different profession. I’ve been focusing on that in my offseason. But primarily, I intend to remain a Kansas City Chief and keep playing football.”

Drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, Kelce entered the league as a less-than-perfect talent. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who previously coached the Philadelphia Eagles, decided to select him after his brother, Jason, expressed his support.

In a now-famous anecdote about the draft, Kelce and Reid, who drafted both brothers, have discussed how their connection formed.

“I guess he told my brother, ‘Make sure this kid doesn’t mess things up for me,’” Kelce recalled in 2017 on Fox Sports’ “The Herd.” “When I got back on the line, he said, ‘Alright, we’re going to take you. The moment you start to stray, I’m going to kick your (expletive).’”

Kelce has certainly lived up to the expectations and has shown impressive durability throughout his career, with missed games being a rare event. Since his rookie season where he only played in one game, he has consistently appeared in games for the Chiefs.

However, time affects everyone. After seven consecutive seasons exceeding 1,000 yards, Kelce has fallen short in the past two years, posting a career-low of 823 yards in 2024. He also recorded only three touchdowns during the regular season, another career-worst.

As the Chiefs prepare to compete for their third consecutive Super Bowl win and their second title in three years against the Eagles, there is a significant absence on the opposing team. Kelce’s older brother, Jason, who retired last season, will simply be watching this time around.

“Of course I wish Jason was out there,” Travis said. “Being at the top with your brother is something truly special that I’ll always cherish.”

Retirement has treated Jason well. In addition to hosting the “New Heights” podcast, he has been a feature on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” broadcasts this season and even landed a late-night show on the network for the NFL playoffs. He’s been quite busy since stepping back from the game in March 2024, but Travis wishes his brother had chosen to keep playing.

“I wish he would have played another year, but he’s very happy with where he is in life, and I’m thrilled for him,” Kelce said. “He gets to spend more time with his family and his daughters. I’ll go out there and do my best to represent the family.”

While it seems unlikely that he will retire after Super Bowl 59, Kelce is approaching the final year of his contract with the Chiefs.

By that time, he will be 36, and questions about retirement will likely intensify.

Nevertheless, Kelce has always excelled in adversity.