NFL News: Travis Kelce sends clear message to Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes after postponing retirement with Chiefs

After flirting with retirement, Travis Kelce ultimately decided to come back for a 13th season in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs. At 35, the tight end believes he still has unfinished business with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.

Speaking with his brother Jason in the latest edition of their “New Heights” podcast, the veteran tight end made sure to send both his head coach and his quarterback a clear message ahead of the 2025 NFL season.

“Coach Reid has been one of the biggest influences on my life, not just in the game of football,” Kelce said. “I don’t want to stop going to work with him. I don’t want to stop learning from him. I don’t want to stop being the reason why he has success or being part of the reason he has success. I want that guy to have the most success in the world because of who he’s been in my life. That’s the same with Pat (Mahomes). There are so many people in that building who I love with all my heart and I want to keep living out those dreams.”

Kelce looks extremely grateful to Reid, who drafted him in his first year at the helm of the Chiefs in 2013. However, the tight end also feels in debt with Mahomes and his teammates after Super Bowl LIX, which is why he vowed to come back stronger.

Head coach Andy Reid and Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs look on during the second quarter of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“I feel like I owe the guys that I come into that building with a whole lot more of effort and focus,” Kelce said. “I just don’t know what it was during that game, man, I wasn’t at my best. … Kansas City, baby, we’re back at it for at least one more year. I can’t say whether or not this will be the last year, becasue 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 more left on my contract and I’m gonna give you guys everything that I got.”

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Kelce running it back with Reid, Mahomes in Kansas City

Kelce, who turns 36 in October, still has one more year under contract in Kansas City. In April 2024, the tight end agreed to a two-year, $34.25M deal that keeps him with the Chiefs through the 2025 NFL season.

A three-time Super Bowl champion with Reid and Mahomes, the tight end appeared to be ready to retire after 12 years in the NFL. But an embarrassing Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in February changed his mind.

Super Bowl loss played a big role in Kelce’s return

“It was probably the biggest factor,” Kelce admitted about the Super Bowl loss’ influence in his decision to come back for a 13th season, as he called the defeat in New Orleans an “all-time low.”

Kelce was limited to just four catches for 39 yards by an Eagles defense that made things impossible for Mahomes, who had three turnovers as he was sacked six times in Super Bowl LIX.

However, even if the Chiefs won the game, Kelce knows that it would’ve been hard for him to quit football: “I mean, it’s a pretty cool way to go out, but I think I would still have this love for the game. … I still think I can play it at a high level, and possibly at a higher level than I did last year.”