The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed Travis Kelce’s return to the football field for another season in the NFL.Â
After suggesting he might retire following the Chiefs’ tough Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce clarified on Thursday, as revealed by Pat McAfee, that he will not be stepping away from the game this year.
Hours later the Chiefs broke their silence with a short and simple statement, doubling down on the legendary tight end’s decision.Â
‘YEAR 13,’ the franchise’s official X account posted, alongside a photo of a beaming Kelce suited up in Chiefs uniform.Â
The number 13 holds a special meaning for Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift. This number is the pop star’s favorite and she has incorporated it into her music career, such as displaying it on her hand during her ‘Speak Now’ tour.
And sources had hinted to DailyMail.com earlier this week that the significance could influence Kelce’s decision to return.Â
Travis Kelce has confirmed he is not retiring and will return to the Chiefs next seasonÂ
Head coach Andy Reid will have the legendary tight end back on his roster next seasonÂ
‘While he has mentioned he isn’t particularly superstitious, he has conversed with Taylor about this being his 13th NFL year, which is her favorite number. They have discussed the significance of him playing this season, and if it happens to be his last, how symbolically meaningful it would be for them,’ the insider shared.
The 35-year-old was noncommittal about his playing future after the loss, saying on his subsequent New Heights podcast he would ‘take some time to figure it out.’
‘The fact that we keep going to these AFC Championships and Super Bowls means I’m playing an extra three games more than everybody else in the entire league,’ Kelce said.
‘That’s a lot of wear and tear on your body. It’s a lot of time spent in the building, focusing on your craft, focusing on the task at hand, every challenge that you set for yourself. That process can be grueling.
‘It can weigh on you. It can make you better and it can drive you crazy at the same time… it was kind of driving me crazy this year.’
Initial reports claimed Kelce had until March 14 to decide whether he would come back for another year, or call it quits.
Last week, however, his brother Jason suggested that, ‘in his heart,’ Travis has already made his choice.Â
Patrick Mahomes also addressed Kelce’s return earlier on Thursday, breaking his silence in a social media post.Â
Kelce struggled to make an impact as the Chiefs were heavily beaten in the Super BowlÂ
Patrick Mahomes broke his silence on Kelce returning to the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday
Mahomes’ message shows Michael Jordan’s security guard giving his infamous shrug
Mahomes’s post showed Michael Jordan’s security guard, John Michael Wozniak, giving his infamous shrug after one of the basketball legend’s signature performances, as first displayed from the beloved ESPN documentary.
Kelce was fifth among tight ends in 2024 with 823 receiving yards, but that total was his lowest since his sophomore season in 2014.
The tight end also hauled in just three touchdowns this season and was quiet in Super Bowl LIX, when the Chiefs suffered a 40-22 loss.
On Tuesday, at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, GM Brett Veach explained Kelce had been sick in the lead up to the game in New Orleans.
‘We’re never going to make excuses and talk about it but he was battling with a pretty big illness before the Super Bowl,’ he told NFL Network .
Veach added: ‘The way the Eagles played it wouldn’t have made a difference… we just picked a bad day to have a bad day.
‘But like anything in life, you learn more from the losses than the wins.’
Kelce’s future had been in doubt following the Super Bowl but on Tuesday Veach dropped a huge hint that the tight end would return for at least one more season.
‘We anticipate Travis being back,’ he said. ‘I think Travis is excited to come back… we’re excited to have Travis back and that’s how we’re operating this offseason.’
