The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed Travis Kelce’s return to the football field for another season in the NFL.
Despite hinting that he could hang his cleats up following the Chiefs humiliating Super Bowl defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce confirmed Thursday, via Pat McAfee, that he would not be retiring this year.
Hours later the Chiefs broke their silence with a short and simple statement, doubling down on the legendary tight end’s decision.
‘YEAR 13,’ the franchise’s official X account posted, alongside a photo of a beaming Kelce suited up in Chiefs uniform.
The number 13 is of significance to Kelce’s girlfriend Taylor Swift. It is the pop star’s favorite number and she has frequently referenced it throughout her music career, including painting it on her hand throughout her ‘Speak Now’ tour.
And sources had hinted to DailyMail.com earlier this week that the significance could influence Kelce’s decision to return.
Travis Kelce has confirmed he is not retiring and will return to the Chiefs next season
Head coach Andy Reid will have the legendary tight end back on his roster next season
‘He has mentioned that he isn’t very superstitious, but he has discussed with Taylor that this year would be his 13th year in the NFL, her favorite number and they have talked about how cool it would be for him to play this year, and if it were to be his last, how poetic that would be for them,’ the source added.
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.
Patrick Mahomes also addressed Kelce’s return earlier on Thursday, breaking his silence in a social media post.
Kelce struggled to make an impact as the Chiefs were heavily beaten in the Super Bowl
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.’
