Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce broke his silence on his decision to return for his 13th NFL season during the latest episode of his New Heights podcast alongside his brother and co-host, retired former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, released on Wednesday (March 5).
“I think the biggest thing is that I f**king love playing the game of football,” Kelce said. “I still feel like I can play at a high level and possibly at a higher level than I did last year. 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 want to give it a good run. I have a bad taste in my mouth in how I ended the year and how well I was playing and how accountable I was for the people around me. And I love so many people in Kansas City, both in that facility and in the community, and it’s home for me.
“I don’t want leave that life yet. I’ve put on a lot of hard work and a lot of focus into being the best that I can for KC. Last year, it didn’t end well for us and I feel like there is a responsibility in me to play out the contract I initially signed to give Kansas City and the Chiefs organization everything I’ve got and that’s what I’m gonna do, man.”
Kelce confirmed that the blowout Super Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles and the Chiefs falling short of their three-peat goal played key roles in his decision, hitting an "all-time low" after finishing the game with four receptions for 39 yards.
“It’s similar to all the decisions I make. It’s off of feel,” Kelce said. “I’m not a big measure the pros and cons, pure gut feeling. I f–king love this game and I love going into the building with the guys that are there.
“Coach [Andy] 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. I don’t want to stop learning from him, I don’t want to stop being a part of the reasons he has success. I want that guy to have the most success in the world because of who he’s been in my life.
“… There are so many people in that building that I love with all my heart man. I want to keep living out those dreams and going to work with them. I never once kind of second-guessed it. Even when it got tough last year on the body or after the Super Bowl and you’re at your all-time low, there is something in a motivating factor that you want to do this. I pulled the trigger as soon as I knew I had that feeling.”
Kelce officially announced his decision to return for his 13th NFL season in a text to ESPN host Pat McAfee on Thursday (February 27). The Chiefs reportedly gave Kelce a deadline of March 14 for his retirement decision, a team source told the Athletic on February 13.
The three-time Super Bowl champion signed a two-year, $34.25 million deal with the Chiefs last offseason, which includes an $11.5 million roster bonus due on March 15, according to Over The Cap, while the NFL's free agency period will start on March 10. Kelce recently surpassed the 1,000 career receptions plateau and became the Chiefs' all-time leader in touchdown receptions, but has seen his numbers decline, recording 823 yards and three touchdowns, his lowest single-season totals in both categories since becoming a starter in 2014.