Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce faces a crucial decision over his playing future, with a £10million roster bonus reportedly due on March 15.
His side are seeking clarity from the 35-year-old by March 14 as the team needs to know his plans before the bonus kicks in.
The deadline falls approximately five weeks before the NFL Draft, giving the Chiefs time to potentially seek Kelce's replacement should he opt for retirement.
The financial implications of Kelce's decision are significant for both player and team.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce faces a crucial decision over his playing future, with a £10million roster bonus reportedly due on March 15
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If he remains on the roster, Kelce would earn the £10m bonus on top of his £3.5m base salary for the 2025 season, according to Spotrac.
Should Kelce choose to retire - or if the Chiefs opt to release him - it would free up £13.4m in salary cap space for Kansas City.
The veteran tight end is expected to inform the Chiefs of any retirement decision before the bonus deadline.
Recent reporting suggests Kelce is likely to continue his NFL career.
Travis Kelce toiled in the Super Bowl as the Kansas City Chiefs crashed to defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles
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Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, The Athletic's Dianna Russini revealed there's "definitely a sense" that Kelce will keep playing.
Based on her conversations, Russini indicated the Chiefs "feel pretty good that Travis has got a little bit more left in him."
This comes despite Kelce's noncommittal stance following the Chiefs' Super Bowl LIX defeat to the Eagles.
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Speaking after the Super Bowl loss, Kelce addressed his future on the New Heights podcast.
"I'm gonna take some time to figure it out," Kelce said. "I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back that it's gonna be a wholehearted decision and I'm not half-a**ing it."
The tight end added: "I think I can play, it's just whether or not I'm motivated or it's the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility."
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Kelce's 2024 season saw him record 823 receiving yards, ranking fifth among NFL tight ends.
This marked his lowest receiving total since his sophomore season in 2014.
The veteran tight end managed just three touchdowns during the regular season.
Travis Kelce will be supported by Taylor Swift - no matter what he decides when it comes to his NFL future
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His final game of the campaign - Super Bowl LIX - proved relatively quiet, with Kelce recording four catches for 39 yards in the Chiefs' 40-22 defeat.
Meanwhile, it recently emerged that Kelce's girlfriend, Taylor Swift, would support her other half no matter what.
The pair have been together for 18 months, with engagement rumours starting to swirl as a result.
But Kelce quitting the NFL after such a glittering career would cause no issues when it comes to their blossoming relationship.
