Travis Kelce Addresses Whether or Not He’ll Return to the NFL After Painful Super Bowl Loss

Mar. 15, 2025

Travis Kelce.Photo:Jamie Squire/Getty

Jamie Squire/Getty

Travis Kelceis assessing his future after a painfuldefeat at the Super Bowl.The Kansas City Chiefs tight end opened up about whether or not he’ll return to the NFL next season on the latest episode ofNew Heights, the podcast he presents alongside his brotherJason Kelce, which dropped on Wednesday, Feb. 12.“I know everybody wants to know whether or not I’m playing next year, and right now, I’m just kicking everything down the road. I’m not making any crazy decisions,” he said.He also noted that the “biggest thing” for him and his teammates right now is “being there” for each other and “understanding.”Travis Kelce.Eric Canha/CSM/Shutterstock“There’s a lot that goes into this thing, you know?” he said of theSuper Bowl, which was held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, on Sunday, Feb. 9. “A lot of wear and tear on your body.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The NFL player, 35, said the40-22 defeathad been a “tough pill to swallow.”“It’s just a tough reality,” he added.But he assured Chiefs fans he wouldn’t be rushing into any decisions about retirement.“I’m gonna take some time to figure it out. And, I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it’s a wholehearted decision. I’m not half-assing it, and I’m fully here for them.”Travis Kelce (left) and Taylor Swift in January 2024.Patrick Smith/GettyHis brother Jason, 37 — who spent his entire 13-year NFL career playing as a center for the Philadelphia Eagles before announcing hisretirement in March 2024— reassured his brother he understood where he was coming from.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!“You’re preaching to the choir, brother. It sucks when you get to this point in the career where it could becomes harder and harder to do it,” thedad of threesaid.Travis also noted that his supporters in the crowd at the Super Bowl — including girlfriendTaylor Swift, 35 — made the defeat a “little easier."“After the game, I had my best friends and my family and my loved ones and everybody that has supported me throughout my life there to make it not feel like the worst day of my life,” he said, adding that the loss was “gonna suck for quite a while."“It’s just life, man. It’s life,” Travis concluded.

Travis Kelceis assessing his future after a painfuldefeat at the Super Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end opened up about whether or not he’ll return to the NFL next season on the latest episode ofNew Heights, the podcast he presents alongside his brotherJason Kelce, which dropped on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

“I know everybody wants to know whether or not I’m playing next year, and right now, I’m just kicking everything down the road. I’m not making any crazy decisions,” he said.

He also noted that the “biggest thing” for him and his teammates right now is “being there” for each other and “understanding.”

Travis Kelce.Eric Canha/CSM/Shutterstock

Eric Canha/CSM/Shutterstock

“There’s a lot that goes into this thing, you know?” he said of theSuper Bowl, which was held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, on Sunday, Feb. 9. “A lot of wear and tear on your body.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The NFL player, 35, said the40-22 defeathad been a “tough pill to swallow.”

“It’s just a tough reality,” he added.

But he assured Chiefs fans he wouldn’t be rushing into any decisions about retirement.

“I’m gonna take some time to figure it out. And, I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it’s a wholehearted decision. I’m not half-assing it, and I’m fully here for them.”

Travis Kelce (left) and Taylor Swift in January 2024.Patrick Smith/Getty

Patrick Smith/Getty

His brother Jason, 37 — who spent his entire 13-year NFL career playing as a center for the Philadelphia Eagles before announcing hisretirement in March 2024— reassured his brother he understood where he was coming from.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“You’re preaching to the choir, brother. It sucks when you get to this point in the career where it could becomes harder and harder to do it,” thedad of threesaid.

Travis also noted that his supporters in the crowd at the Super Bowl — including girlfriendTaylor Swift, 35 — made the defeat a “little easier.”

“After the game, I had my best friends and my family and my loved ones and everybody that has supported me throughout my life there to make it not feel like the worst day of my life,” he said, adding that the loss was “gonna suck for quite a while.”

“It’s just life, man. It’s life,” Travis concluded.

source: people.com