Chiefs' Travis Kelce discusses chat with Patriots' Bill Belichick

"I just mentioned how much I respect him and how much it’s always the biggest challenge I go up against in the National Football League is going up against one of his defenses," Kelce said about the interaction during the latest edition of the "New Heights" podcast released on Wednesday, per Jaclyn Hendricks of the New York Post. "I just wanted to make sure he heard that from my mouth. It’s been a pleasure going up against him all these years."

It was rumored before the Patriots fell to 3-11 on the season that team owner Robert Kraft could part ways with Belichick in January. While Belichick turns 72 years old this coming April, there's no indication he plans to retire regardless of how Kraft handles New England's head-coaching situation. Belichick reportedly is under contract through the 2024 campaign and has already been linked in rumors with the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys, among other clubs. 

"I was honestly just going up to him to pay respect over the 10 years that I’ve been going up against him and how much I appreciate the challenge every single time," Kelce added about Belichick. "Hats off to him for always being that great."

Kelce may have had his future rather than Belichick's in mind ahead of Sunday's moment. For a piece published on Nov. 20, Kelce told J.R. Moehringer of The Wall Street Journal that he thinks about retirement "nonstop" and "more than anyone could ever imagine." 

The 34-year-old also suggested that "the lingering injuries—the 10 surgeries I’ve had that I still feel every single surgery to this day" could cause him to potentially ride off into the sunset as soon as this winter amid his much-publicized relationship with entertainment superstar Taylor Swift.