According to a source close to the couple, the 35-year-old Kansas City Chiefs tight end is planning his career in such a way that he might end up attaching a pivotal moment of his identity as an NFL star with his Grammy winner lady love.

Following the Chiefs’ defeat in their game against Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, there were strong speculations regarding the future of Kelce’s NFL career, but the source shared that the three-time Super Bowl winner does not want to retire this year, and it has a lot to do with Swift and her favorite number!

Travis Kelce’s retirement plans have endearing link to Taylor Swift

Speaking to the Daily Mail, a source shared that while Travis Kelce is not immediately thinking about retirement, he is, nevertheless, getting a taste of what post-retirement life might look like for him.

Recently, the athlete has taken a “romantic” international vacation with his girlfriend, who is also taking a “gap year” following the success of her 21-month-long ‘Eras Tour’.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are seen in the Meatpacking District on December 28, 2024, in New York City (TheStewartofNY/GC Images)
While waiting for the NFL season to start in the fall, Kelce is also enjoying quality time playing golf.

“With all this free time with Taylor and all this travel they are doing together, it is getting Travis to learn what retirement will be like,” the source shared.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attend the men’s final on day fourteen of the 2024 US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center on September 8, 2024, in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York City (Jean Catuffe/GC Images)
They continued, “He is loving this time with Taylor, and he is very happy it is all going well because this is what he will be dealing with after his playing days are over.”

While the chatter about his retirement after the crushing defeat is greater than ever, the insider claimed that Kelce’s loved ones know that this is not the way he is planning to hang his cleats.

“Travis is going to go all in on this [next] season, as he expects it to be his last,” said the source, before adding, “He wants to retire as a Chief… and his contract is up after this year. [So] his current idea is to hang it up after this season.”

However, vengeance might not be the only motivating factor for the decorated Chief, as the insider suggested there might be another reason behind him not retiring this year.

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Taylor Swift after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
While becoming a Hall of Famer is the dream of every NFL star, Kelce is one of the foremost contenders for the honor. However, in order to be eligible for the same, he should have retired for at least five years.

Thus, the insider proposed that if Kelce bows out after playing the upcoming season in 2026, he will be eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2031.

’31’, when flipped around, gives the number ‘13’, which has long developed the reputation for being Swift’s favorite number.

Speaking about the options surrounding Kelce’s retirement, the source continued, “It has in no way been constant conversation, maybe brought up once or twice, but as Travis was contemplating retirement this year, a thought that passed his mind was what if he were to retire after next season, he would then be eligible for the NFL [Pro Football] Hall of Fame in 2031 [since you have to have been retired at least five years].”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are seen at the 2024 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2024, in New York City (MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
“Flip the 31 around, and that is 13—Taylor’s favorite number,” noted the source, before adding, “Such a random thought did pass his mind.”

Swift, who was born on December 13, has also named her personal management company “13 Management” to honor her favorite number.

Taylor Swift’s dependence on schedules has inspired Travis Kelce’s decision

The source further added that while being in a relationship with Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce is also understanding the importance of schedules in the ‘Lover’ singer’s life.

“One thing Travis has learned being in a relationship with Taylor is that her life is heavily dependent on a schedule,” shared the insider. “Whether it is for tours or putting out music, there are certain dates and times that she has to be free,” they added.

Taylor Swift is joined on stage by Travis Kelce during ‘The Eras Tour’ at Wembley Stadium on June 23, 2024, in London, England (Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
“She’ll always be free for whenever the Grammys take place, for instance,” continued the source.

“So that scheduling and that detail that Travis now deals with—on top of his own schedule, whether for his podcast or acting—means that timings and dates play a very important part in both their lives, to the point where the 2031 date has now taken on some significance,” they added.

Nevertheless, come what may, as the athlete has still not delineated his future plans, it is expected that he will join the Chiefs’ preseason training camp in July before the season begins.