NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Kansas City Chiefs expect to see tight end Travis Kelce back on the field next season, general manager Brett Veach said on Tuesday, after the 10-time Pro Bowler raised the possibility of retirement following a brutal Super Bowl defeat.
The 35-year-old said he was “kicking every can I can down the road” after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 40-22 in the NFL title game earlier this month, weighing the grueling nature of the sport against his desire to compete.
But Veach struck a confident tone speaking to reporters at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where NFL coaches and scouts travel annually to evaluate top collegiate talent, noting that Kelce still has one more year under contract.
“How we left at the end of the season is that he was fired up,” said Veach.
“Still think he has that fire and desire to play. As far as I’m concerned, there is no deadline. I think we left it as he’d be back.”
After a slow start, Kelce finished the most recent season with his lowest yardage total and fewest touchdown catches since his 2013 rookie campaign.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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