Two-time NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy believes Travis Kelce “should have retired” amid the Chiefs’ exit from the playoffs. The Chiefs lost 13-16 to the LA Chargers on Sunday, December 14, putting an end to their playoff dreams. It will be the first time Kelce has missed the playoffs since 2014.
Gerald McCoy talks about Travis Kelce’s possible retirement
Ex-NFL star Gerald McCoy offers his take on Travis Kelce’s possible retirement. McCoy discussed Kelce’s questionable form and the Chiefs’ heartbreaking exit on The Arena Gridiron. According to McCoy, the cracks in Kelce’s form were visible from the beginning, which has unfortunately been the starting point of his decline.
McCoy remarked, “Travis Kelce ain’t been the same. Last offseason, when he said he wasn’t sure if he should retire, he probably should have retired. This game is too difficult to play with that mindset. When your mind wanders, it shows” (via The Mirror US).
Furthermore, McCoy believes that Kelce’s heart may not be fully in the game, and that has inevitably affected his form in the tournament. He stated, “What he looks like on tape is like, ‘I should’ve retired and my mind is not all here.’”
However, McCoy clarified that Kelce was not the main problem and that the team hasn’t executed their game to its full potential. McCoy blasted, “They have 11 takeaways, the fewest of the Mahomes era. They’ve got 20 sacks, the third fewest. On third down, this is the second-worst defense they’ve had. Offensively, third down is the worst it’s ever been.”
Interestingly, Kelce’s form hasn’t been all that bad this NFL season. He ranked second among tight ends in yards and finished the season with 797 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Notably, in October this year, Kelce also experienced a historic career moment with his 100th touchdown reception against the Washington Commanders. The 36-year-old became the fourth tight end in NFL history to reach 100 touchdown receptions (via Complex).
When asked about his impending retirement, Kelce gave an ambiguous and non-committal response. He shared, “I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity, whether I come back or not, or whether they want me back or not. I’d like to make that decision before they’ve got to get draft picks and free agency opens to fill the roster appropriately. All that will be at the end of the season. I won’t be thinking about it until then” (via The Mirror US).
Originally reported by Anwaya Mane on Mandatory
