Travis Kelce brushes off NFL retirement speculation

The 36-year-old tight end's long-term future in the sport is unclear after the Chiefs missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2014 but he has pledged to give his all to the team in their remaining games before making a call.

Kelce - who is engaged to pop superstar Taylor Swift - told reporters: "It's just integrity, man". 

"I signed up to be a Chief, and I love doing what I do. I know I've been dreaming of being in these moments and playing for an NFL team since I was a kid. Getting back to that will give you more motivation than you could ever need. That's just how you need to go about work, whether you're in the (playoff) race or not," he said.

"I'm going to make sure these guys know I'm out there giving them everything I got."

Kelce has spent the entirety of his NFL career with the Chiefs and is determined to put the team first as their season comes to a close.

"I think I'd rather just keep the focus on this team, right now," he said.

"All the conversations that I have with the team moving forward will be with them. It's a unique time in my life.

"I've got three games left and I know when the season ends. Just trying to make sure everybody here knows that I'm focused on trying to win games (in) these last three games."

Kelce also revealed that he has spoken to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes - who suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee during last weekend's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

"That's my brother. I know everything he's going through," he said. 

"It's just disappointing, and then, on top of that, it's just an absolute dagger into the back, knowing how the season ended for (him) on our last hope going into the last drive of the game. 

"It looked like we were going to have a chance to maybe come out with the win and keep our (playoff) hopes alive. It just kept going downhill from there."

"It sucks, man, but that's the reality of it. We've got three games left to try and enjoy it with the guys in this building. On top of that, Chiefs Kingdom deserves us to go out there and play our hearts out for them."

Australian Associated Press