Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Travis Kelce has confirmed his intent to return to play for the 2025 season, according to ESPN reports. 1
ESPN’s Pat McAfee said he received a text from Kelce. McAfee read the text on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday.
“I’m coming back for sure. Gonna try to get into the best shape I’ve been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop,” Kelce wrote in the text. “Got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and with how I got the guys ready for battle. I can’t go out like that!!!!”
Kelce was well contained by the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, held to four catches for 39 yards in the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss, denying the Chiefs a record three-peat as champions.
Kelce had a tough 2024-25 season, where he posted career lows (not counting his rookie season when he appeared in one game) in receiving yards (823) and touchdowns (3). He did, however, lead the Chiefs in receptions with 97.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach had said earlier this week at the scouting combine in Indianapolis that, based on his last conversation with Kelce, he expected the star tight end to play for the Chiefs this season.
Kelce, 35, said in multiple interviews the week of the Super Bowl that he intended to play again in 2025. But he was less definitive about his future in the days after the game on his “New Heights” podcast.
Kelce has an $11.5 million roster bonus on March 15 that would trigger in the final year of his contract. But Veach said this week that there is no deadline for Kelce to make his decision.
