Travis Kelce may be gearing up for his 13th NFL season, but he’s just as motivated as ever according to his teammate and friend Patrick Mahomes.
Kelce, 35, mulled retirement following Kansas City’s disappointing Super Bowl loss to the Eagles before deciding to return for at least one more year.
And as Kelce and his Chiefs teammates reported for OTAs this week, it’s been clear to Mahomes that the тιԍнт end is all-in.
‘If it’s the last ride, you would never know,’ Mahomes said after being asked about Kelce’s approach ahead of what could be his final year.
‘I mean, the way he’s talking about football, the way he’s talking about working and trying to be even better this year than he was last year. He doesn’t seem like a guy that, it’s his last ride, like he’s tired of the job. He’s in here, he’s working and I know his body feels good, I think it feels better than even last year before going into last season.’
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are seen during halftime of Super Bowl LIV vs. the Eagles
Kelce reported to OTAs earlier this week after deciding to play a 13th NFL season
Patrick Mahomes on Travis Kelce:“If it’s the last ride, you would never know.” pic.twitter.com/DQWZdvNaL3
— BBQ Chiefs (@BBQChiefs) May 29, 2025
Kelce was fairly anonymous in the Super Bowl, hauling in just four receptions for 39 yards, after producing just three touchdowns in the regular season.
Following the 40-22 loss to the Eagles, Kelce said ‘I f***ing love playing the game of football’ but that he can perform better than he did throughout last season.
‘I don’t think it was my best outing. I think 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,’ he said on his New Heights podcast.
‘I want to give it a good run. I’ve got a bad taste in my mouth on how I ended the year and how well I was playing and how accountable I was for the people around me. I love so many people in Kansas City, both in that facility and the community and it’s home for me now.
‘I don’t want to leave that life yet. I put in a lot of hard work and focus into being the best I can be for Kansas City and last year it didn’t end well for us. I feel there’s a responsibility in me to play out the contract I initially signed to give the organization everything that I’ve got and that’s what I’m going to do man.’
Kelce signed a two-year, $34.25million contract – with $17m guaranteed – back in April 2024.
The тιԍнт end, who has been dating pop star Taylor Swift since the summer of 2023, enjoyed a high profile offseason last summer as he followed the singer on her Eras Tour. At one point, he even made an onstage cameo at Wembley Stadium.
However, Kelce has had a much quieter break this time around, as he and Swift have remained out of the spotlight.
Kelce and his girlfriend Taylor Swift have enjoyed a more low-key offseason than last year
Kelce and Mahomes, seen after winning the AFC Championship, will look to avenge their loss in the Super Bowl
Notably, they were not at the Met Gala earlier this month, while Travis also opted against joining his good friend Patrick Mahomes at the Miami Grand Prix, to cheer on the Alpine Racing team which they are both investors in.
Kelce and Swift were also recently spotted in Florida, though he remained coy about where he’s been spending his time off when speaking with his mom Donna.
On New Heights, Donna told her youngest son: ‘You look a little dark, Trav. You have a tan?’
However, he brushed aside her observation and said he has just been in his ‘cubicle’ since the NFL season ended.
The Chiefs are now just over three months away from their season opener against the Chargers in Brazil.
