As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for their offseason after an unexpected 6-11 finish in 2025, tight end Travis Kelce finds himself at a career crossroads.
For only the second time in his 13-year NFL career, the Chiefs missed the playoffs, but Kelce still delivered impressive individual performances, 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns, earning his 11th consecutive Pro Bowl selection despite the team’s struggles.
At 36 years old, Kelce is weighing whether to return for a 14th NFL season or retire, leaving behind a legacy few players can match. Regardless of his decision, his career statistics – 1,080 catches, 13,002 yards, and 82 touchdowns – virtually ensure he will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
For Kelce, the question now is less about ability and more about the right timing to step away from the game he has dominated for more than a decade.
Even as he contemplates retirement, Kelce has remained active off the field. Alongside his brother Jason, he continues to host the popular podcast New Heights, where the duo discusses football, life, and personal growth.
But a recent guest appearance on “Monday Mornings with Mitch” offered Kelce a chance to reflect on his early career and the mentors who shaped his development as a player and professional.
Kelce thanks former teammate for a lesson that lasted
During the episode, Kelce reunited with former Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, his teammate in Kansas City from 2013 to 2017. Kelce took the opportunity not just to reminisce, but to express profound gratitude for Smith‘s influence.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without learning how to be a pro from you,” Kelce said, highlighting how Smith helped him handle both success and adversity with composure.
Kelce also shared a memorable moment from the 2017 season, in a 12-9 overtime loss to the New York Giants, when he attempted his first NFL pass. The throw, made in a high-pressure situation, resulted in an interception, a mistake Kelce openly calls a “bonehead move.”
However, Smith‘s response in the aftermath left a lasting impression: “Think of it like a punt, you’re playing field position,” Smith told him.
That advice changed Kelce‘s approach to mistakes, teaching him to stay positive and learn from errors, no matter the moment’s intensity.
That lesson has clearly endured. Through injuries, triumphs, and multiple Super Bowl victories, Kelce‘s ability to rebound from setbacks and maintain a team-first mentality shows he took what he learned from Smith to heart.
While Kelce weighs the next chapter of his career, that perspective will undoubtedly continue to guide him, on and off the field.
