Travis Kelce’s teammate reveals who really convinced Chiefs star not to retire… and it wasn’t Taylor Swift!

Travis Kelce's teammate reveals who really convinced Chiefs star not to retire... and it wasn't Taylor Swift!

Travis Kelce will be returning for a 13th NFL season, and one of his teammates has claimed to be responsible for convincing him to keep playing.

Kelce, 35, weighed up retirement following the Chiefs’ loss to the Eagles in the Super Bowl, in which he was largely anonymous with just four catches for 39 yards.

He ultimately decided to come back for Kansas City, and Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice has taken credit for that call. 

‘I ain’t gonna lie to y’all, I’m 95 percent of the reason he ain’t retiring,’ he told REVOLT Sports.

‘Told him he can’t go out like that. I’m gonna make sure we get that next year. He was finna hang it up. I’m pretty sure he was gonna hang it up. And I’m like, ‘Bro, we can’t go out like that.”

While Rice is only 24, the Chiefs’ blowout 40-22 loss in Super Bowl LIX could have been the last game of Kelce’s career.

Travis Kelce, seen with girlfriend Taylor Swift, is returning for a 13th NFL season

Travis Kelce, seen with girlfriend Taylor Swift, is returning for a 13th NFL season

And teammate Rashee Rice has claimed to be responsible for convincing the тιԍнт end to return

And teammate Rashee Rice has claimed to be responsible for convincing the тιԍнт end to return

Kelce was mostly a non-factor in the Chiefs' Super Bowl loss to the Eagles in New Orleans

Kelce was mostly a non-factor in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Eagles in New Orleans

However, the receiver went on to detail how he reached out to Kelce and supposedly changed his thinking in regards to retirement. 

‘I texted him. He basically was like, ‘bro, I really appreciate that.’ He’s like, ‘you really got me thinking about it. I really appreciate you reaching out to me.’ And then I seen it pop up on the media. I said, ‘all right now,” he concluded, imitating the тιԍнт end’s catchphrase.

Speaking on his New Heights podcast with his brother Jason after the game, Kelce claimed he was not fully focused in New Orleans. 

‘I feel like I owe the guys that I come into that building with a whole lot more effort and focus. I just don’t know what it was during that game man, I wasn’t at my best,’ he said.

‘The more that I see clips or watch the film and put myself back into those moments, man, I’m just like ‘what the f**k.”

Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Jason and Travis Kelce receive huge news during NFL offseason article image

His brother and co-host Jason replied: ‘Don’t overanalyze it Trav. You’re the king of not overanalyzing, so don’t overanalyze it.’

By returning to play for the Chiefs, Kelce is earning an $11.5million roster bonus on Friday.

His regular season marks of 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns were both his lowest since his sophomore season in 2014, but he is still considered one of the game’s better тιԍнт ends and a trusted underneath target for Patrick Mahomes.

Rice, a second-round pick in 2023, had a hugely positive rookie year as he finished with 938 receiving yards and seven touchdowns before helping Kansas City win the Super Bowl.

However, he played just four games in 2024 after suffering a gruesome knee injury. 

Related Posts

Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes wow crowd at Kansas City charity event… but Taylor Swift is nowhere to be seen after major announcement

Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes wow crowd at Kansas City charity event… but Taylor Swift is nowhere to be seen after major announcement

Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes wowed the Kansas City crowd as two of the big names involved in Big Slick, an annual charity event that raises money…

EXCLUSIVENFL’s newest power couple Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld tie the knot in stunning Santa Barbara ceremony

EXCLUSIVENFL’s newest power couple Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld tie the knot in stunning Santa Barbara ceremony

Looking ethereal in her custom white-silk strapless gown, actress Hailee Steinfeld was all smiles as she wed quarterback fiancé Josh Allen in a sunset ceremony in California….

Controversial Chiefs star Rashee Rice hit with million lawsuit

Controversial Chiefs star Rashee Rice hit with $1million lawsuit

Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been hit with a third lawsuit over a 119mph car crash in Dallas last year. The Super Bowl winner is accused of…

Stefon Diggs posts cryptic message amid fears over his NFL future after viral video that left girlfriend Cardi B furious

Stefon Diggs posts cryptic message amid fears over his NFL future after viral video that left girlfriend Cardi B furious

NFL star Stefon Diggs has issued a cryptic message amid claims he could be cut by the New England Patriots over his viral boat video.  The wide…

EXCLUSIVEEx-NFL star Tim Green opens up on devastating health battle that has left him unable to walk or talk

EXCLUSIVEEx-NFL star Tim Green opens up on devastating health battle that has left him unable to walk or talk

A small window appears on screen to indicate that, after a brief wait, ‘Tim’s iPhone’ has joined the call. There remains only one small issue. ‘Your camera’s…

Major update on Steelers star T.J. Watt’s NFL future after huge exit hint

Major update on Steelers star T.J. Watt’s NFL future after huge exit hint

There has been a major update on the future of T.J. Watt, as arguably the Steelers’ best player enters the final year of his contract, and he…