Kansas City, MO – Travis Kelce, one of the NFL’s most accomplished tight ends, is returning for a 13th season with the Kansas City Chiefs, despite the natural questions surrounding his age.
As he approaches his 36th birthday this October, Kelce’s resume already places him among the greatest tight ends in NFL history, with 10 Pro Bowl selections, four first-team All-Pro honors, and three Super Bowl rings.
However, despite achieving so much in his career, Kelce wasn’t ready to call it quits just yet. In an interview on Wednesday, Kelce shared his decision to return for the upcoming season, stating that it came easily and that he wasn’t ready to leave the game.
Kelce’s Love for Football Keeps Him Going
“I love football,” Kelce told reporters. “I don’t think I really thought about it that much. My friends and family, and the team and the guys and women in this building, I love coming into work every single day.”
While Kelce’s career is already Hall of Fame-worthy, he felt he still had unfinished business. The way the previous season ended—a Super Bowl blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles—was a major factor in his decision to return for another year.
“I really didn’t feel like it was my last game,” Kelce said. “Just felt like I’ve got a lot more to prove.”
The Motivation Behind the Decision
Despite his advancing age, Kelce feels he still has much to offer the Chiefs. “It wasn’t a very tough decision for me,” he said, emphasizing that the loss in the Super Bowl fueled his desire to prove himself further. “I still feel like I got a lot that I can prove in this league.”
He made sure to take his time before confirming his return, saying that after the loss, he wanted to let the emotions settle before making a decision. “You don’t want to make decisions off initial emotions,” he explained. “Once they died down, I still felt like I had that fire in my chest to be able to keep coming in and building and be better.”
A Challenging Season Behind Him
Kelce’s performance last season saw some career lows—823 yards and three touchdowns, both of which were his lowest totals in years. He didn’t participate in the Chiefs’ OTAs but returned for mandatory minicamp, showing his commitment to the team.
As he prepares for the upcoming season, Kelce knows questions surrounding his future will remain, especially as he has just one year left on his contract. However, Kelce hinted that he’s not ready to walk away anytime soon. “We’ll try and figure out something for next year,” he said.
The Road to Another Championship
For Kelce, it’s all about the Super Bowl. After winning three championships since 2020, Kelce’s mindset is solely focused on holding up the Lombardi Trophy at the end of each season. He has seen five Super Bowl appearances and considers any season without another ring a failure.
“I’m only interested in Super Bowl rings,” Kelce declared. He acknowledged the importance of the Lamar Hunt AFC Championship trophy but made it clear that only the Super Bowl title ultimately defines a successful season for him.
Setting the Bar Higher for Himself
Reflecting on last season’s Super Bowl loss, Kelce took responsibility for his role and set the bar even higher for the upcoming season.
“Last year I think I failed especially in that last game in being a leader and being the one that can step up and make plays,” Kelce admitted. “So just setting the bar even higher for myself this year than I have in the past.”
Kelce’s motivation is crystal clear: he’s focused on winning another Super Bowl and adding to his already legendary legacy. For him, anything less than another championship will not be enough.
