Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who agreed to a new two-year contract in April, said Tuesday he wants to keep playing football “until [he] is at the end of my rope” after the first day of the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp.

The 34-year-old signed a four-year, $57.25 million deal with the Chiefs in 2020, following a five-year, $46 million deal in 2016. The new deal signed this year will pay him $34. 25 million and will tie him to the team until the end of the 2025 season.

“I’ve called Kansas City home for 11 years, I remember it every time I come back to the city,” Kelce said. I take advantage of the off season to escape and recharge my batteries, but at the same time, I am a football player. I love playing in the NFL. »

Even so, Kelce acknowledged that he is closer to retirement than to the start of his career and this reality fuels his desire to pursue different avenues of sports and entertainment. He hosts a very popular podcast with his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce. He will also host a quiz game on the Amazon Prime platform.

He also made several appearances on Saturday Night Live, intending to continue exploring acting.

“I can’t give a date,” Kelce said of his retirement. Really, I love coming to work every day. I know there are opportunities outside of football for me, and I think you have to keep in perspective that I’m like a little kid when I walk in [to Chiefs stadium].

“I know I’m 34 – I’m going to be 35 [in October] – but I have a lot to do here. I love coming to work every day to do this. I’m going to do this until I’m exhausted. Hopefully that won’t happen anytime soon. But I know for sure that the end of the path is closer than its beginning. »

Kelce was selected third overall in the 2013 draft. Although he missed almost his entire rookie season due to a knee injury, he is already the Chiefs’ all-time rushing leader with 11,328 yards. reception.

He needs 10 catches to surpass Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez’s record of 917, and three touchdowns would put him past Gonzalez on that mark with 77.