The performance followed ongoing questions about how much longer Kelce, who turns 37 in October, plans to play. Kelce has not announced retirement plans, and Reid emphasized after the victory that he liked what he saw from his veteran tight end.
“Kelce, he dusted it off, right? Three for 71 yards. Pretty good for an old man that people look cross-eyed at,” Reid said to reporters after the game.
In addition to the 59-yard catch, Kelce contributed a six-yard reception on a third-down conversion as Kansas City began its season with a win over the reigning AFC West champions.
Reid had already touched on Kelce’s future earlier in the offseason. He once answered a hypothetical question about who would retire first if he had to bet a cheeseburger—himself or Kelce—by saying, “How about if we both go out together? How’s that?” The idea would provide a fitting symmetry to their long collaboration in Kansas City. Reid became the Chiefs’ head coach in 2013 after 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, and a few months later Kansas City drafted Kelce in the third round of the NFL draft.
Over 13 seasons, Reid and Kelce have reached five Super Bowls and won three. Yet Reid isn’t signaling an imminent end to their partnership. He noted that he still has three seasons left on his contract and highlighted Kelce’s offseason conditioning as a reason to remain optimistic about the tight end’s longevity.
“Yeah, so I’ve still got a few years on this contract,” Reid said. “Travis came back in phenomenal shape. People have said it’s his last year, but he has looked great. And as long as he can keep that up and go, we might be able to check out together down the road there.”
Kelce has also spoken plainly about his retirement timeline. In an interview, he indicated he’s not ready to let go of the game and still believes he can compete at a high level for as long as possible. He has expressed a strong desire to keep playing while he can still contribute meaningfully to the team.
Beyond football, Kelce made headlines with his personal life, including his marriage to a high-profile public figure during the offseason. Yet on the field, his focus remains on competing at the highest level and helping the Chiefs sustain their continued success.
Kelce’s future certainly remains a topic of discussion, but for now, the Chiefs will rely on him as a veteran cornerstone while continuing to evaluate his contributions as they prepare for the next stretch of the season. The team’s veteran leadership, combined with Reid’s strategic approach and Kelce’s enduring production, suggests both are prepared to navigate the road ahead together—whatever length that road may be.
