Unanimity after Chiefs activate Jody Fortson: Travis Kelce’s career is over

The 35-year-old tight end has been tipped to retire after a tough start to the 2024/25 NFL season

Travis Kelce

Travis KelceLAPRESSE

 

Is Travis Kelce poised to retire from the NFL after the Kansas City Chiefs chose to promote Jody Fortson from their practise squad, providing the 35-year-old with another tight end to contend with in a tough 2024/25 season?

The triple Super Bowl champion struggled for targets and yardage in the opening three games of the campaign, with Patrick Mahomes preferring to opt for Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice although now are both injured.

Jasser Akle

Lack of action led to a highly emotional and frustrated Kelce against the Atlanta Falcons, although he’s since had an upturn in form against the Los Angeles Chargers and the New Orleans Saints.

Yet as Andy Reid, the head coach, chooses to put Fortson on the active roster just two months after the Miami Dolphins cut him, there are fears from fans that the iconic football star could be set to call time on his career.

One user posted to X.com, formerly Twitter, “Travis Kelce’s replacement has arrived.”

A second added, “Travis is playing so bad they got to active Jody Fortson.”

And a third wrote, “Travis Kelce’s career is over.”

Kelce, a four-time All-Pro, started the season with 12 targets through three games for eight receptions and a total of 69 yards as suspicion began to emerge that the tight end had hit the age wall.

However, in the two games since he has produced 16 receptions from 19 targets and has covered 159 yards as the Chiefs defeated the Chargers and Saints, although he is yet to find that all-elusive first touchdown of the season.

Why might Travis Kelce retire?

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Now into his age 35 year, there are a lot of miles on the body clock for the 2013 third round pick and with Super Bowl wins in 2019, 2022 and 2023 he has nothing left to prove to anyone, leading to suggestions he may bow out.

Kelce, who penned a four-year $57m deal in 2020, could also head to television or film and recently made his acting debut in FX’s Grotesquerie show where he received critical acclaim for his performance.