Travis Kelce goes behind the scenes of Jason Kelce’s decision to retire from the NFL

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Since 2013, the Kansas City Chiefs have had one of the best tight ends in NFL history in their squad.

Year after year, Travis Kelce has continued to solidify his status as one of the best at his position, impressing with both his numbers and his impact on the field.

The TE not only dominates the position with his accurate receptions and powerful runs after contact, but also takes Kansas City’s offensive game to new heights.

He has become an icon of the sport and the franchise. And that essence seems to be in the family DNA.

Jason Kelce, his brother and former offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, is the face of every offensive line in the NFL. His presence on and off the field has made him a legend and a role model for the city – and the league.

Brothers who look after and admire each other

Brothers Travis and Jason Kelce have a unique relationship that combines caring and fierce competition.

They are 23 months apart. Jason, the eldest, has taken on the role of protector for Travis, guiding him so that he doesn’t follow the wrong path and harm him in the future. Travis has always seen his brother as a source of inspiration too.

New Heights podcast owners faced each other in a Super Bowl for the first and only time in 2022. The Chiefs won 38-25.

Jason retired in March 2024 after 13 seasons in the NFL. Travis, on the other hand, is entering his 12th year in the league and still has two more years left on his contract with KC, so he will probably surpass his brother’s mark.

Travis Kelce tells the details behind his brother’s retirement

The age at which Jason Kelce retired in the NFL is considered to be slightly above what many players are used to. 36 is already considered a decline.

Travis was present in a conversation with the Bussin With the Boys podcast and was asked if he felt that by now, that is, at 34, if he already feels that there are things that he is no longer able to do on the field.

The tight end responded by referring to his brother.

“I’ve struggled with the aspect of not having the success that I’ve had in my younger years. Like, I was talking to my brother about kind of when he was like, man, I know this is it, I’m done. I’m over with and it wasn’t like the wear and tear of like his body after a game, it was just the fact that there were some plays that he knew he should be making and his body just, he wasn’t the same athlete.”

Kelce went on to elaborate on his answer: “He was like, ‘That’s frustrating right here (his mind) when you’re like, how successful you are and how successful you’ve been in your career and not having that success every single time, and you kind of see yourself, I don’t wanna say deteriorating, but like, you’re just not having that same moment… I’m just running it up on these dudes like you just don’t have that, that ability to know, I guess.”

Travis’ instant reaction to Jason’s decision

“I was telling him, I was like, ‘Dude, don’t you fucking quit on me. Goddamn it, don’t you do it’, said TK.

He revealed that his brother had been planning this for years.

“Jason was trying to retire like five years ago. The Eagles organization just kept on: how about we just give him just a few more meals. Just keep coming back, having some fun, we got a good quarterback – then he goes to the Super Bowl and plays another another year and a half or another year after that.”

Chiefs’ defending champion recognises that his brother’s decision “paid off” and was for a greater reason.

“I think he’s just, he’s come to like being ok with where his career was, his entire longevity of it and everything, he was just comfortable with where he was and he has great opportunities off the field.”

“He’s got three little girls that he’s just ready to go and just be a dad and be fully in, not that he wasn’t, but he’s helping out Kylie now at the house,” he added.

“So it’s like a perfect match of everything coming together for him.”

Travis isn’t close to the end yet and he still has a lot of fire. He has at least one more mission to fulfil as a member of the team.