• NFL star Travis Kelce is not finished playing football. On Thursday, Feb. 27, he announced that he would return for the 2025-2026 season.
• Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs lost the Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles, prompting the tight end to say, “I can’t go out like that!!!”
• Kelce will make $4.5 million next season, with an $11.5 million roster bonus due on March 14.

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NFL star Travis Kelce announced Thursday, Feb. 27, that he will not retire and will run it back with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2025-2026 season. It’s great news for fans who can’t get enough of seeing Kelce and his superstar girlfriend, Taylor Swift, at NFL games.

How was Kelce’s return announced?

In a text to media personality and former NFL punter Pat McAfee, which was read on his show, Kelce said, “I’m coming back, for sure. 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!!!!”

Kelce is referring to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, which abruptly ended the team’s “three-peat” bid.

Kelce was held to four catches and just 39 yards in the loss.

What are the Chiefs saying?

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach hinted at Kelce’s return.

“How we left it at the end of the season is that he was fired up. He has one more year under contract. I still think he has that fire and desire to play,” Veach said. “As far as I’m concerned, there is no deadline. I think we left it as he’d be back. And we’re excited to get him back and get him going.”

The 35-year-old tight end had his worst season in terms of yards and touchdowns since his rookie year in 2013, when he played in only one game.

Will his production rebound in 2025? Head coach Andy Reid was asked that question on Tuesday, Feb. 25. He said those are conversations for later this summer.

“They played a lot of games and a lot of, you know, for a consistent amount of seasons here, and so you get to the end of the thing, you’ve exhausted yourself mentally and physically step back and take care of that, then we’ll talk,” Reid said.

Is Taylor Swift still on board?

According to Page Six, the 10-time pro bowler and his 14-time Grammy-winning girlfriend Swift did get away from football for a while. They went abroad to “reconnect”.

Another big reason for Kelce to return is his salary. He’ll be due $4.5 million this season, plus an $11.5 million roster bonus on March 14 and another $1 million roster bonus on the fifth day of training camp.