Travis Kelce reveals the reason why he chose not to retire following the Chiefs’ Super Bowl heartbreak
The tight end teased the possibility of ending his career following the loss in New Orleans. Kelce admitted the grind of life in the NFL had driven him ‘crazy’ last season but it was recently confirmed that the 35-year-old would return for a 13th season.
Now, speaking on the latest edition of New Heights, Kelce conceded that he ‘let down’ his teammates with his performances last season.
But the 35-year-old is not yet ready to turn his back on his ‘dreams’, insisting he still believes he can compete at the top.
‘I think the biggest thing is that I f***ing love playing the game of football. I still feel I can play at a high level and possibly at a higher level than I did last year,’ he said.
‘I don’t think it was my best outing. I think I let my guys down in a lot more moments than I helped them, especially if you look at my track record and how I’ve been in years past.
Travis Kelce has opened up on his decision not to retire after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss
‘I still feel I can play at a high level and possibly at a higher level than I did last year,’ he said
The tight end and Taylor Swift are seen during a night out in New York City back in December
‘I want to give it a good run. I’ve got a bad taste in my mouth on how I ended the year and how well I was playing and how accountable I was for the people around me. I love so many people in Kansas City, both in that facility and the community and it’s home for me now.
‘I don’t want to leave that life yet. I put in a lot of hard work and focus into being the best I can be for Kansas City and last year it didn’t end well for us. I feel there’s a responsibility in me to play out the contract I initially signed to give the organization everything that I’ve got and that’s what I’m going to do man.’
Kelce signed a two-year, $34.25million contract – with $17m guaranteed – back in April 2024.
There is still one year left on that deal in Kansas City, where Kelce has played his entire career since being selected in the third round of the 2013 draft.
The tight end has spent the last decade working under Andy Reid and, together with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, they built the best team of this era. Kelce is already a three-time Super Bowl champion but the Chiefs failed in their bid for a historic three-peat.
‘It was a gut feeling. I f***ing love this game, man, and I love going into the building with the guys who are there,’ Kelce continued.
‘Coach Reid has been one of the biggest influences on my life, not just in the game of football and I don’t want to stop going to work with him, learning from him or being the reason he doesn’t have success.
‘I want that guy to have the most success in the world because of who he’s been in my life. That’s the same with Pat (Mahomes). There are so many people in that building who I love with all my heart and I want to keep living out those dreams.
Kelce struggled to make an impact as the Chiefs were heavily beaten in the Super Bowl
The tight end was suffering from a ‘pretty big illness’ ahead of the Super Bowl, it has emerged
‘I never second guessed it. It was always in the back of my mind, even when it got tough on the body last year, tough after the Super Bowl.’
Kelce managed only four receptions for 39 yards as the Chiefs were humiliated in the Super Bowl.
The Eagles secured a 40-22 victory in New Orleans, where Kelce’s girlfriend Taylor Swift was booed when she appeared on the jumbotron.
But last Wednesday, ESPN star Pat McAfee sensationally read out a text message from Kelce – disguised as a ‘source’ – which read: ‘My dog!!! I’m coming back for sure.
‘I’m going to try and get to the best shape I’ve been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop.’
The message continued: ‘I have a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and how I got the guys ready for battle. I can’t go out like that!!!!’
Chiefs GM Brett Veach recently revealed that the tight end was battling an illness leading up to the game.
