Following the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59 on Sunday, few could blame tight end Travis Kelce for keeping a low profile.
On top of dealing with the heightened emotions of losing a championship and the opportunity to be a part of NFL history on the first team to win three straight Super Bowl titles, the 35-year-old pass-catcher also has to decide whether or not he wants to return in 2025 for this 13th season.
The Chiefs gave Kelce a deadline of March 14 to decide if he plans to play next season or not. That’s the day his $11.5 million roster bonus kicks in.
If Kelce does retire, the Chiefs won’t be on the hook for any of the money Kelce is owed next season ($19.8 million cap hit). If he does want to return, it’s likely the Chiefs restructure his deal to lower his salary or cut him and re-sign him to a more team-friendly deal.
Reports indicate those around the Chiefs organization feel that Kelce is leaning toward retirement but the 10-time Pro Bowler stated on a recent episode of his “New Heights” podcast that he’s going to take some time to really weigh his options.
While he mulls over arguably the biggest decision of his NFL career, Kelce is presumably taking some time away from football to reboot with girlfriend Taylor Swift, who flew in two days before the Super Bowl to support Kelce in the biggest game of the season.
Pop star Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce celebrate after the 2025 AFC Championship Game.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Kelce’s dad Ed recently disclosed that his son and Swift are planning to spend some time together with the NFL season in the rearview, and a new report from Marca suggested the couple is keeping it low-key on Valentine’s Day.
“Taylor is making sure Travis isn’t dwelling too much on the game,” a source told Marca. “She’s just being there for him and keeping him engaged in other things. … Their relationship has been a whirlwind since the beginning, but things are great between them. They’re incredibly happy.”
Kelce recently admitted that he put a lot of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss on himself, stating he was kicking himself for some of the decisions he made on the field and not being the best leader he could be in motivating his teammates during the game.
“Swift, known for turning heartbreak into chart-topping hits, is reportedly prioritizing Kelce’s well-being and doing everything she can to lift his spirits,” Marca reported.
