Travis Kelce Officially Announces Whether He Is Retiring From NFL

Travis Kelce, who the Chiefs drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, has spent his entire career with the franchise.

The 10-time Pro Bowler has been instrumental in the Chiefs' dominance, securing four championships and breaking multiple records along the way.

As retirement rumors have taken over the internet, Travis Kelce has finally announced what he plans to do for the 2025 NFL season.

Kelce has officially shut down speculation about his retirement, confirming that he will return for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs. The star tight end made the announcement via text to "The Pat McAfee Show," where his message was read live on air.

“I’m coming back, for sure,” Kelce wrote. “Gonna 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!!!!”

The news comes just weeks after Kelce and the Chiefs fell short in their bid for a historic Super Bowl three-peat, losing 40-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles on February 9.

Kelce acknowledged that his body has taken a toll after 12 years in the league.

“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 up for yourself, and that process can be grueling,” he admitted. “It can weigh on you.”

He also opened up about the emotional toll of aging in the game, admitting, “I think that it happens as you kind of tail off toward the back nine of your career, as you see yourself or not feel yourself have the success that you once used to have. Man, it’s a tough pill to swallow.”

Despite those challenges, Kelce is committed to giving it his all, both for himself and his teammates.

“I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back then it’s going to be something that is a wholehearted decision; I’m not half-a--ing it,” he said. “I’m fully here for them.”

With his sights set on another season, Kelce is ready to put in the work and make another run at the top.

This news comes as Travis Kelce made his return to the U.S. after a romantic getaway with his girlfriend, Taylor Swift. 

A source told Page Sixthat the pop sensation and Kansas City Chiefs tight end took a private international vacation, where they took time to relax and reconnect. “Taylor and Travis had a really nice time reconnecting after a very busy year,” the insider revealed.

Although the exact destination of their secluded retreat remains unknown, the couple appears to be making the most of their time before their packed schedules pick back up.

Since returning stateside, the duo reportedly stepped out for a date night, successfully flying under the radar. “They weren’t photographed or anything and enjoyed a low-key night out on the town together,” the source added.

Kelce has been at the center of retirement speculation following the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss in February. While the tight end has since confirmed he will return for another season, he initially remained undecided about his future in the NFL.

“I know everybody wants to know whether or not I’m playing next year,” Kelce told his brother Jason Kelce during an episode of their "New Heights" podcast. “Right now, I’m just kicking everything down the road. I’m not making any crazy decisions, but right now, the biggest thing is just being there for my teammates and being there for my coaches, understanding that there’s a lot that goes into this thing.”

With Kelce gearing up for another season and Swift taking a well-deserved break following the conclusion of her "Eras Tour," the couple is seizing every opportunity to enjoy their time together before their professional commitments ramp up once again.