How important was losing the Super Bowl in Travis Kelce’s decision to return for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs?
“It was probably the biggest factor,” Kelce said on Wednesday’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast, co-hosted by Travis and his brother Jason Kelce.
One week after Kelce and the Chiefs affirmed the star tight end’s decision to return for the 2025 season, Kelce detailed his decision-making process on “New Heights.” The 35-year-old repeatedly alluded to a love for the game as a driving factor in coming back to play his 13th NFL season.
“I still feel like I could play it at a high level and possibly at a higher level than I did last year,” Kelce 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.
“I just, I want to give it a good run. I 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.”
Kelce also said he felt a responsibility to play out his contract, which expires after the 2025 season, following one of his less productive campaigns in 2024.
“Kansas City, baby, we’re back at it for at least one more year,” he said. “I can’t say whether or not this is going to be the last year because I still love a lot of what I do for the city of Kansas City and the Chiefs organization. So I know I got one on my contract, and I’m going to give you guys everything I got, baby.”
In the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, Kelce finished with four receptions on six targets for 39 yards. In 2024, his 823 yards with three touchdowns and 97 receptions made for his worst statistical season since his one-game rookie campaign in 2013.
Kelce said winning the Super Bowl wouldn’t have necessarily changed his decision, but he likely would’ve “thought about it more if we would have won.”
“I mean, it’s a pretty cool way to go out, but I think I would still have this love for the game and the feeling,” Kelce said.
“The ending of that game, I feel like I owe the guys that I come into that building with a whole lot more effort and focus. I just don’t know what it was during that game, man. I wasn’t at my best. And the more that I see clips or watch the film and put myself back into those moments, man, I’m just like, what the f***?”
Kelce said his decision-making process is based on feel and “a pure gut feeling.” He called coach Andy Reid “one of the biggest influences” on his life and said he wants to come back to contribute to the success of Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the team.
“I never once kind of second-guessed it,” he said. “It was always in the back of my mind, even when it got tough last year on the body or when it got tough after the Super Bowl and you know, you’re at your all-time low.
“It’s just, there’s something in a motivating factor that you can do this and you want to do this. And I pulled the trigger as soon as I knew that I had that feeling.”
Kelce said he’s at his best when he has fun while playing. After falling short of an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat last season, Kelce also detailed what he thinks the Chiefs need to do to get back to the big game next year.
“We got to get some pieces,” Kelce said. “I think 100 percent this offseason, we’re stuck trying to juggle some contract negotiations and losing some key pieces. And I mean, that hurts, you know? We got a lot of guys that we rely on big time.
“I know I’ve always trusted Brett Veach and the front office and the coaches to bring in the right guys, and not only just the guys that have the skillset and the athleticism and the competitive edge, but do it in a fun way. We’ve brought in guys before that can add to the chemistry of how the weeks go, the routines go, and try not to make it like we’re coming into work. We’re excited about what we’re doing, and we’re excited about the challenges ahead.”
Required reading
(Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
