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Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu pleaded with tight end Travis Kelce to not "go out like that" while discussing his potential retirement decision.
Omenihu, who spent the past two seasons with the Chiefs, addressed the team's blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX and Kelce's possible retirement during an appearance on FS1's show The Facility on Thursday (February 13).
“This would be my message to Trav: ‘Big dog, we — the whole organization — can’t go out like that,’” Omenihu said. “He’s a Hall of Famer from the moment he says, ‘I’m done.’ But I think Trav has a lot left. I think Trav is an extreme competitor. I think he’s somebody that loves the game. And I think in the storied career that he’s had, going out like that, in my opinion, wouldn’t be something that he would do.”
“So, I believe that he’ll be back," he added.
Kelce, 35, addressed the "wear and tear" on his body while discussing his potential retirement decision during the latest episode of his New Heights podcast with his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, released on Wednesday (February 12), days after the Chiefs' Super Bowl LIX blowout loss to the Eagles.
“I know everybody wants to know whether I am playing next year and right now I am just kicking everything down the road. I am kicking every can I can down the road,” Kelce said. “I am not making any crazy decisions but right now, the biggest thing is just being there for my teammates and being there for my coaches understanding there’s a lot that goes into this thing. I’ve been fortunate over the past five, six years, I’ve played more football than anybody.
“The fact that we keep going to these AFC Championships and Super Bowls, that means I’m playing an extra three games more than everybody else in the entire league. That’s a lot of wear and tear on your body.
“It’s a lot of time in the building … That process can be grueling. It can weigh on you. It can make you better and it can drive you crazy. Right now, it was one of those things where it was driving me crazy this year. It happens as you tail off towards the back nine of your career.
Last week, Kelce responded "hopefully still playing football" when asked where he plans to be in three years during Super Bowl Opening Night festivities.
“Hopefully still playing football,” Kelce said via the Associated Press. “I love doing this, I love coming into work every day. I feel like I still have a lot of good football left in me. We’ll see what happens. I know I’ve been setting myself up for other opportunities in my life. That’s always been the goal knowing football only lasts for so long. You have to find a way to get into another career and another profession. I’ve been doing that in my offseason. But for the most part, I plan on being a Kansas City Chief and playing football.”
Kelce recently surpassed the 1,000 career receptions plateau and became the Chiefs' all-time leader in touchdown receptions, but has seen his numbers decline, recording 823 yards and three touchdowns, his lowest single-season totals in both categories since becoming a starter in 2014. The 35-year-old finished Sunday's game with four receptions for 39 yards.