Travis Kelce Shocks Fans: He's Not Retiring and Will Return to the Chiefs!

‘Tis the damn season for Travis Kelce to keep playing football.

After several months of rumors regarding his potential retirement before the NFL’s 2025 season, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs has confirmed that he plans to continue playing on the field for at least another year.

On February 27th, Travis shared the latest update with analyst Pat McAfee, who subsequently read an athlete’s text during his ‘Pat McAfee Show’.

Travis mentioned that he will definitely return, adding that he intends to reach his peak physical condition during this off-season and make it back to the top of the mountain.

The 35-year-old exclaimed, “I feel terrible about my performance in the last match and how I prepared the team for it. I don’t want to end like this!!!

It appears that Travis can’t wait to rejoin coach Andy Reid and his team, which includes Patrick Mahomes, Isiah Pacheco, Chris Jones, and DeAndre Hopkins, at their workplace with the Chiefs.

Before the NFL player made his announcement, the Kansas City Chiefs had experienced a significant defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2025 Super Bowl held in New Orleans on February 9th.

After their recent team loss, many have been eagerly anticipating a decision on Travis’ retirement. However, given the emotional impact of the game’s result, he had requested some time for reflection earlier.

Travis explained to his brother Jason Kelce on their New Heights podcast episode from February 12th, he’s delaying answering questions about whether or not he’ll play next season. In other words, he’s putting off making any significant decisions and pushing everything that can be pushed aside for now.

At that point, the athlete placed great emphasis on providing emotional support for his teammates.

He emphasized the importance of supporting his teammates and coaches, acknowledging the numerous aspects involved in their endeavor. Over the last five to six years, he’s had the opportunity to play more football than anyone else, which is largely due to the individuals in our organization.

… as for the upbeat mindset that Travis consistently embodies, this is what Taylor Swift, his ardent supporter, attests to.

During her acceptance speech for the Video of the Year award at the 2024 VMAs, the “Anti-Hero” singer described her boyfriend by saying that whatever he touches transforms into joy, amusement, and a touch of enchantment.

For more ways Travis has made his whole career shimmer, keep reading.

Although Travis Kelce might always associate with Kansas City, Missouri, he was raised in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio.

Instead, the man declares his hometown rather than his university affiliation, namely the University of Cincinnati, during game broadcasts featuring player introductions.

Which, as you might guess, has irked some fellow alums.

In 2019, Travis shared his thoughts when he and his brother Jason Kelce were inducted into the Cleveland Heights High School Hall of Fame. He said, “I value the time I spent at the University of Cincinnati deeply, but there was a period when things weren’t simple for me there. It was challenging. I lost my scholarship, and I made some poor decisions. I’m confident many people here can relate to someone from our hometown who’s made similar mistakes. To my friends, I was that person.

Beyond just being meaningful to him alone, he explained, the Heights held a unique significance for everyone residing there. The rich tapestry of diversity this place presented stirred something deep within him. Every action he took was in service to this city. It might sound trite, but I assure you, every time you witness me celebrating in the end zone, that’s my love for Cleveland Heights on display, for you all to see.

2. About that revoked scholarship…

Following their unbeaten 2009 season with a Big East championship, Travis was found to have used marijuana prior to the 2010 Sugar Bowl. This was due to excessive partying he engaged in during New Year’s Eve celebrations in New Orleans.

Beyond just not playing in the bowl game, he was suspended by the NCAA for the entire 2010 season, causing him to lose his scholarship. As a result, he ended up living with his brother Jason (specifically, sharing a room in the house that his teammates and Jason shared) and took on a job as a telemarketer, where he would call people to discuss their thoughts on the Affordable Care Act.

They did, and Travis could not wait to get back on the field.

3. Prior to focusing on football, Travis had experience playing hockey, baseball, and basketball. He served as a quarterback in high school and was even recruited by Cincinnati as a two-star quarterback prospect. However, due to his suspension, he had to switch positions and became a tight end as part of his reinstatement to the team.

In his conversation with Arrowhead Pride after being drafted by the Chiefs in 2013, Travis mentioned that at the time, we had a remarkable quarterback named Zach Collaros. However, our team required assistance in both the running and passing games. So, I discussed this with my coach, Butch Jones, who was coaching me then. He suggested we needed a tight end, and since my abilities, athleticism, and direction matched what was needed, everything fell into place perfectly for me.

In 2017, when he spoke with GQ, he essentially said that people had been telling him throughout his life that he was more suited to play the position of tight end.

4. The home located on 127 West Nixon Street, where Travis shared a room with Jason and several other Bearcats, was frequently the site of mischief fueled by beer.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I fondly recall the endless hours my brothers and I spent on our beloved Nintendo 64 console in college, passionately engaging with the games while sharing beers. Tom DeTemple, my cherished friend and teammate, shared this anecdote with the New York Times before the 2024 Super Bowl. He recounted how we would invent impromptu drinking games during our gaming sessions, demonstrating a remarkable knack for it.

5. And suffice it to say, Travis is extremely proud of being a Bearcat.

As I stood before the reporters ahead of the 2023 Super Bowl, my heart swelled with Cincinnati pride. You see, I’m not just a fan – I’m a product of the University of Cincinnati, and receiving my diploma was a dream come true. I feel a deep connection to that place, and whenever I can, I return to lend a helping hand. The memories I made with my teammates there are priceless, and I miss those connections terribly. Through the highs and lows of life, the people I met along my journey at Cincinnati have always been by my side, offering unwavering support.

When he found himself under scrutiny by the NCAA, he asserted, “Those who were part of the team and staff during my tenure at the university – they had faith in me to bring about a change and improve my situation. This belief was incredibly impactful for me at that point in time.

6. Travis, who had enlisted in the draft shortly after college, finally received his degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2022. However, it wasn’t until April 2024 that he got to walk during a surprise graduation ceremony. This event coincided with them recording a live episode of New Heights at Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena.

As the graduate drew near for his congratulatory handshake with the dean, he was already clutching a beer can. After their shake, he swiftly drained the can.

And Travis was going to graduate in 2022 but he missed his flight.

7. Because of issues away from the field, Travis was selected as the fifth tight end in the 2013 NFL Draft, being picked first in the third round by the Chiefs. Following this, coach Andy Reid, who had previously coached Jason in Philadelphia, requested the older Kelce brother to endorse Travis.

Andy and Travis have three Super Bowl rings to show for Jason’s endorsement.

8. For quite some time, Travis would play “Burn On” by Randy Newman prior to every game, even though his preferred music styles may have evolved since then.

Speaking on the NBC Sports podcast “PFT Live” in 2017, he shared that as a child from Cleveland’s east side, this particular song evokes memories of family and makes him reflect on his life’s journey, appreciating where he is now.

Let us explain: It’s in the opening credits of Major League, the ultimate Cleveland sports movie.

9. Everyone, including Travis, is mispronouncing his last name.

Although they’ve gone with Kelce, who sounds like “Kel-see”, it should be noted that it rhymes with “else”.

Travis’ teammate Chris Jones dropped a surprising comment about something on Inside the NFL in January, saying “Isn’t that f**king crazy, right?” The brothers later discussed this with their father Ed Kelce on their New Heights podcast, and it turns out that what he said was indeed true.

Jason wondered aloud, “What led you to suddenly switch your name to ‘Kel-see’, when we had been known by other names for so long – 27 years for me and 25 years for Trav?

Ed admitted he “got tired of correcting people” but urged his son to “do whatever you want.”

10. The jersey number 87 that Travis has consistently worn during his NFL career is a nod to Jason, who was born in the same year as him (1987).

Travis clarified to NFL Films before the 2023 Super Bowl, where his Chiefs faced off against Jason’s Eagles, that if a Kelce legacy exists, it can be traced back to 1987, as this is when their journey to the NFL began due to the birth of the big guy in that year.

As a dedicated follower, I’ve been proudly supporting Operation Breakthrough, a remarkable non-profit learning center in Kansas City, since my very first visit back in 2015. It was there that I had the pleasure of reading “The Cat in the Hat” to the children, an experience that athlete Travis has been associated with ever since.

Yes, reader, he wore the hat.

Afterward, Travis decided to invest in the program’s Smart Lab and even purchased the neighboring muffler shop for an expansion project. This led to the creation of their Ignition Lab, where the young scholars transformed old cars that were destined for the junkyard into functioning electric vehicles.

As an ardent fan, I affectionately refer to myself as a “92%-er,” a title bestowed upon us by Travis and Jason during their New Heights broadcast. This nickname is a nod to the time when Jason mentioned that a quarterback sneak play was successful 92% of the time – just one yard can make all the difference in scoring a touchdown!

As a devoted enthusiast, I seem to recall that fans affectionately labeled themselves as the “92 percenters,” following a trend mentioned on the podcast’s site. This nickname, according to them, was akin to our special code, but expressed through spoken language instead.

Who were the Kelce brothers to argue with that?

13. Travis is accompanied by three personal trainers – Alex Skacel, Andrew Spruill, and Laurence Justin Ng – who are said to always accompany him, no matter where he goes, as reported by The Athletic. Their purpose is to keep him in top physical condition for football throughout the entire year.

Alex, who is additionally a physical therapist, remembered that Travis expressed his desire to go for an evening jog following the completion of numerous fashion shows at Paris Fashion Week, as he had neglected exercising that particular day.

At midnight, the coach informed the New York Times in April that we were running short bursts across the bridges over the river. Regardless of his location, he always manages to complete whatever tasks are necessary for him.

14. Kumar Ferguson, who’s been friends with Travis since the fourth grade in Cleveland Heights, is his personal chef.

In 2016, he was juggling his role as an amateur chef with that of a truck driver. That’s when Travis reached out to him with an intriguing proposition.

In 2023, Kumar expressed to Vanity Fair that the individual said something along the lines of, “I’m really committed to improving my diet, and I want to go all out.” To which Kumar replied, “Wow, let’s get started. A few days later, I found myself in Kansas City.

He takes care of a wide range of tasks, from filling up Travis’ fridge to ensuring balanced meals are delivered to the Chiefs‘ training complex.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it like this: In the spotlight more than ever, I decided to make a change with my facial hair this year. I parted ways with my off-season beard but kept the mustache as a tribute to the iconic walrus look that Andy Reid sported. I find myself drawn to repeating this style in 2024 too.

In April 2024, a two-year deal worth $34.25 million was signed by Travis, marking the first time in his professional football career that he became the highest-earning tight end in the National Football League (NFL).

Which finally put an end to years of chatter about how much money he wasn’t making.

In a conversation with Vanity Fair in 2023, Travis humorously commented that his supervisors and representatives frequently remind him he’m underpaid. Every time I bring up the topic of earning more, they suggest I should approach the Chiefs about it instead.

However, as other revenue streams became available to him, he found himself prioritizing the atmosphere over the salary.

He said, “The free market seems exciting until you find yourself not succeeding, which is something I dislike. I appreciate success and am content with my current circumstances.

Admitting it leaves a slight pang, he acknowledged seeing other players rake in large sums of money. It gives you pause, making you question if you’re not getting a fair deal. I wonder if I could truly accelerate things if I were rewarded according to my perceived value. Yet, I appreciate being at that place every day.

17. Travis developed a keen interest in fashion from his childhood days in Cleveland Heights, as he recalled his high school resembling a daily fashion show, as he shared with Vanity Fair in 2023.

Consequently, he transformed his bedroom into a closet, ideal for storing his designer clothes and over 300 pairs of sneakers, including a pair of size-13 Nike Air Mags, which he bought using a significant portion of his first year’s earnings, even though they were a size too small.

Previously, during the early stages of his profession, before there were numerous sneaker applications, he told the Wall Street Journal, he would simply purchase the largest pair of shoes available that he desired.

Although he is predominantly a fan of Nike (and this isn’t only due to the brand’s sponsorship), Chuck Taylors also have a special place in his affections, as they evoke memories of fictional baseball star Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez from the movie “The Sandlot“.

18. Among his dozens of investments, Travis co-owns Ohio-brewed Garage Beer with Jason.

Travis expressed in a June statement that it’s common knowledge he enjoys having a few beers occasionally. So, being the owner of Garage Beer and deeply engaged in creating top-notch light beer is thrilling for him, he added. There’s nothing more effective at uniting folks than a cold beer, and for Jason and Travis, that’s what beer represents – friends, family, and good times.

19. We’re sensing a theme when it comes to Travis’ guilty pleasure TV choices.

In the past, it was known as “Gossip Girl”: “To put it simply, it’s fantastic,” he expressed on “New Heights”. It’s essentially a TV series set in New York City high schools, filled with lots of drama and people constantly spreading rumors or talking negatively about each other.

His new favorite show? Peacock’s Emmy-winning backstab-a-ganza The Traitors.

20. Recently, Travis, who is in his 12th season in the NFL and 35 years old, has become more candid about the physical strain that playing football can impose on a player’s body.

However, from the very beginning, he has been resiliently enduring numerous setbacks, starting with a microfracture in his knee during his rookie year which led to the first of the ten surgeries he underwent throughout his professional career.

21. Travis openly discussed an incident on the “New Heights” podcast, sharing how he tried – unsuccessfully – to offer Taylor Swift a friendship bracelet bearing his phone number during her Eras Tour stop in Kansas City.

Following rumors from those within her circle who were aware of Travis’s intentions, she reached out to him directly.

He said, “She clearly explained the situation to me,” he shared with WSJ. Magazine, “and I consider myself fortunate for being able to connect with her.

22. For as long as anyone can remember, French toast with whipped cream and syrup has been one of Travis’ preferred dessert choices.

But more recently he’s become a fan of his girlfriend’s homemade Pop-Tarts and cinnamon rolls.

23. One of Travis’ phone tones features Chris Farley exclaiming “Goodness gracious me!” (a similar phrase from Tommy Boy) instead of a typical ringtone.

He shared with WSJ. The Magazine that he had introduced his love for the comedy of Farley, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell to his girlfriend, saying, “This is what I’m all about.

24. Following their AFC Championship victory against the Bengals in 2019, Travis caused a stir by shouting “You’ve got to fight for your right to party!” This action prompted the Chiefs to play the Beastie Boys song with the same title after every touchdown scored at Arrowhead Stadium during their home games.

2020 saw Chiefs general manager Brett Veach describe Travis Kelce as a sort of ‘energy amplifier,’ which can be challenging to precisely measure in terms of its significance. He added that Kelce possesses an exceptional blend of character, charisma, and passion, and his presence seems to draw people towards him. Within their team, everyone appears to be friends with Travis Kelce. This star player is not just a source of energy but also boosts everyone’s mood, focus, and attention. In the end, he remains someone who brings fun along with his impact.

However, the lively host who introduced the tune into their world confessed that he hadn’t memorized all the lyrics of the 1986 hit until he was asked to perform it alongside Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in February 2023.

Regarding his preferred tunes, in May 2024, Travis mentioned that his top three favorites by Taylor Swift were “Blank Space,” “The Alchemy,” and “So High School.

Inquired about it back in September, but when asked again, he responded with a new sentiment: “I love them all equally – absolutely each and every one.

26. Travis was often compared to the esteemed tight end of the Chiefs, Tony Gonzalez, who hung up his cleats in 2013 following a 17-year career in the league, from an early stage onward.

In 2015, as discussions intensified about whether he could indeed outperform Tony’s accomplishments and the potential disappointment if he fell short, Travis chose to ignore the hubbub.

He shared with Complex, “I set my standards higher than anyone else does – I personally expect myself to achieve the most statistically impressive season any tight end has ever seen.

On September 29th, Travis moved ahead of Tony as the Kansas City Chiefs’ record holder for most career receptions, reaching a total of 917 catches.

On “New Heights,” Travis remarked, “It’s amazing how things often return to their starting point.” Standing atop the leaderboard with the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that dates back to the ’60s and is one of the original organizations to make it this far, is a testament to their enduring success. Much of this can be attributed to their long-standing history and a great mentor like Tony Gonzalez. I truly admire the guy.

27. Of Travis’ many accomplishments, keeping his house in order on his own isn’t one of them.

“He can’t clean,” mom Donna Kelce told Extra in September. “He can’t cook.”

Perhaps having a special guest during her visit has given you an added incentive to tidy up the place.

“He’s getting a little better,” Donna acknowledged. “I think he’s getting some help.”

2025-02-27 23:48

Travis Kelce Shocks Fans: He’s Not Retiring and Will Return to the Chiefs!

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