For most players, the kind of year Kelce had in 2024 would be a career goal. But for the 10-time Pro Bowler, it was a bit of a down campaign. He posted his lowest yardage total (823) and fewest touchdown catches (three) since his rookie season in 2013. Of course, he also had 117 yards and a TD against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round, so when the lights get bright, he’s still Kelce.

If he did retire, he’d do so with a lot of game left in the tank. But unlike most players, Kelce, who carries a base salary of $4.5 million for 2025 and has an $11.5 million roster bonus due on March 14, would almost certainly make more money off the field after retirement than he would on the field playing.

His wildly popular New Heights podcast with his brother, Jason, has been beyond lucrative. In 2024, Kelce starred in the FX horror series, Grotesquerie. He hosted Saturday Night Live in 2023 and also hosts Are you Smarter Than a Celebrity?, a Prime Video game show.

The opportunities for Kelce are endless.

But first is Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

A win would make the Chiefs the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls, allowing Kelce to walk off into the sunset in a way almost no one gets to do. A loss could fuel him to return for the 2025 season, but it also could show him it’s time.

Kelce’s future should be clearer in the coming days and weeks.