Travis Kelce explains decision to return to Kansas City Chiefs in 2025

Following a lot of thought, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce ultimately decided to return for the 2025 season. He had been pondering retirement from the game.

But Kelce didn’t want to leave after this past season with a bad taste in his mouth. The future Hall of Fame tight end didn’t have his best season statistically and the Chiefs fell 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles.

So, the superstar didn’t mince words: he’s back and ready to turn the page. He explained his decision, talking with brother Jason on their podcast.

“The biggest thing is that I (expletive) love playing the game of football,” Kelce said on New Heights. “I love playing, I still feel like I could play it at a high level, and possibly at a higher level than I did last year. I don’t think it was my best outing. I let my guys down in a lot more moments than I helped them, especially if you look at my track record and how I’ve been in years past. I want to give it a good run. I got a bad taste in my mouth on how I ended the year and how well I was playing and, you know, how accountable I was for the people around me.

“And I love so many people in Kansas City, both in that facility, in the community, it’s home for me now. I don’t want to leave that life yet. I put in a lot of hard work, and I put in a lot of, you know, focus into being the best that I can for KC last year, it just didn’t end well for us. I feel like there’s a responsibility in me to play out the contract that I initially signed to give Kansas City and the Chiefs organization everything that I got, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Kelce is arguably one of the NFL’s most productive tight ends ever, currently ranking third in NFL history in career receptions (1,004) and receiving yards (12,151) and is fifth all-time with 77 career receiving touchdowns. Kelce also leads all active NFL tight ends in regular-season receptions, 229 more than veteran Washington Commanders TE Zach Ertz, who is currently a free agent.

“Kansas City, baby, we’re back at it for at least one more year,” Kelce said. “I can’t say whether or not this is gonna be the last year, because I still love a lot of what I do for the city of Kansas City and the Chiefs organization, so I know I got one on my contract. I’m gonna give you guys everything I got baby.”

In 16 games this past season, Kelce put up solid numbers with 97 catches for 823 yards but managed a career-low three receiving touchdowns.

But as he looks toward his 13th season in the NFL, it’s clear Father Time has already taken a toll on Kelce. His 823 receiving yards and 8.5 yards per catch are career-low marks.