{"id":29517,"date":"2025-02-28T09:20:45","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T09:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=29517"},"modified":"2025-02-28T09:21:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T09:21:24","slug":"travis-kelces-retirement-decision-confirmed-by-pat-mcafee-after-months-of-speculation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=29517","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING : Travis Kelce\u2019s retirement decision \u2018confirmed\u2019 by Pat McAfee after months of speculation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Travis Kelce\u00a0has confirmed he is not retiring from the NFL and plans to play again in 2025.<\/p>\n

ESPN star Pat McAfee read out a text message from the Kansas City Chiefs tight end on his Thursday show on the network, confirming he would return and play next season.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dog!!! I’m coming back for sure,\u201d the text from the 35-year-old read. \u201cGonna try and get to the best shape I’ve been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop. Got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and how I got the guys ready for battle. I can’t go out like that!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The Independent<\/em>\u00a0has reached out to representatives for Kelce for comment.<\/p>\n

The last game Kelce is referring to is the LIX Super Bowl earlier this month when\u00a0the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Chiefs\u00a0with a final score of 40 to 22.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\u2018My<\/div>
\u2018My dog!!! I’m coming back for sure,\u2019 Kelce\u2019s text messages to Pat McAfee read\u00a0(Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Kelce\u2019s confirmation that he will not be retiring from the NFL comes after the Chiefs general manager Brett Veach spoke during Wednesday\u2019s episode of the NFL\u2019s\u00a0The Insiders<\/em>\u00a0podcast. During the episode, he revealed\u00a0Kelce was sick with a \u201cpretty big illness\u201d<\/a>\u00a0just before the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re never going to make excuses and talk about it, but he was battling with a pretty big illness there before the Super Bowl,\u201d he said about the\u00a0New Heights<\/em>\u00a0podcast co-host. \u201cBut the way the Eagles played it wouldn\u2019t have made a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Veach also addressed the nature of the Chiefs\u2019 Super Bowl loss, saying the game was a \u201cbad day to have a bad day.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cWe\u2019re to use that as motivation to get better throughout this off-season.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also hit back at the ongoing speculation about Kelce retiring, saying the Chiefs is expecting to see the tight end on the field in the upcoming NFL season.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cWe anticipate Travis being back. We\u2019re excited to have Travis back,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Kelce previously spoke about his retirement decision during\u00a0the February 13 episode of his\u00a0New Heights<\/em>\u00a0podcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that we keep going to these AFC championships and these Super Bowls, that means I\u2019m playing an extra three games more than everybody else in the entire league,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of wear and tear on your body.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it\u2019s going to be a whole-hearted decision. Not half-assing it,\u201d he continued. \u201cI\u2019m fully here for them and I think I could play. It\u2019s just whether or not I\u2019m motivated or it\u2019s the best decision for me as a man, as a human, and as a person to take on all of that responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Travis Kelce\u00a0has confirmed he is not retiring from the NFL and plans to play again in 2025. 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