Peyton Manning advises Travis Kelce to take a beat before making any major career decisions following the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl defeat earlier this month.
As rumors of Kelce’s retirement plans swirl, the former NFL quarterback –– who retired when he was 39 in 2016 –– said he hopes the tight end “doesn’t make a rushed decision.”
“I hope he takes some time,” Manning told E! News on the “SNL 50” red carpet Sunday.
Manning, now 48, explained that the “last thing” Kelce, 35, should be doing is making the life-changing decision so soon after the loss.
“Take some time. Take a full month,” he suggested. “Let some things digest and calm down. He can make a better decision then.”
However, Manning admitted that he’s still rooting for Kelce to give it at least another year.
“I hope he comes back and plays,” he added. “He’s fun to watch, but he’s got to do what’s best for him.”
Kelce reportedly has until March 14 to decide whether or not he’ll continue playing with the Chiefs through the 2025-2026 NFL season.
The tight end could earn a whopping $11.5 million roster bonus, in addition to his $17.5 million in total salary, if he chose to return to the field.
Kelce addressed the speculation on last week’s episode of his “New Heights” podcast and acknowledged that people are invested in his future.
“I know everybody wants to know whether or not I’m playing next year,” he said.
“Right now, I’m just kicking everything down the road. … I’m 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 that there’s a lot goes into this thing.”
Kelce pointed out that he has frequently played “extra” games during the NFL seasons, because he’s been “fortunate” with his team often advancing to the playoffs and the Super Bowls.
“That’s a lot of wear and tear on your body, and it’s a lot of time spent in the building focusing on your craft, focusing on the task at hand, every challenge that you set up for yourself, and that process can be grueling. It can weigh on you,” he admitted.
The three-time Super Bowl champion confessed that the whole situation is a “tough reality” for him, so he’s “going to take some time to figure it out.”
“I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back then it’s going to be something that is a wholehearted decision; I’m not half-assing it,” he continued. “I’m fully here for them. I think I can play — whether or not I’m motivated and it’s the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility.”
Meanwhile, his teammate and close friend Patrick Mahomes also discussed Kelce’s possible retirement during a press conference after the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.
“I know he still has a love for the game, and he’ll get to spend some time with his family and make that decision on his own,” the quarterback told reporters. “But, he knows he’ll come back here with open arms, and we love that guy.”
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