Travis Kelce couldn’t stop watching the film of his performance at Super Bowl 2025 last month.
During the latest installment of the “New Heights” podcast, the Chiefs’ All-Pro тιԍнт end, who was a non-factor in Kansas City’s 40-22 loss to the Eagles, said he forced himself to overanalyze clips from the game and was dumbfounded by his stunning showing.
“I feel like I owe the guys that I come into that building with a whole lot more effort and focus,” Travis, 35, told his brother and co-host Jason Kelce while explaining why he decided to return for a 13th NFL season. “I just don’t know what it was during that game, man. I wasn’t at my best. The more that I see clips or watch the film or put myself back in those moment, man, I’m just like, ‘What the f–k?’”
Jason then chimed in and told Travis — who had four grabs for 49 yards in the Super Bowl loss — not to overanalyze things.
“You have to overanalyze. That’s the way I find motivation,” Travis said. “That’s how I create the beast, that’s how I flip the switch.”
Wednesday’s podcast marked the first time Travis, who’s spent his entire NFL career with Kansas City, explained in-depth his decision to play next season.
He had previously acknowledged that Super Bowl 2025 could be his final game.
“I think the biggest thing is that I f–king love playing the game of football,” he said. “I still feel like I can play at a high level and possibly at a higher level than I did last year. I don’t think [Super Bowl 2025] 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.
“I want to give it a good run. I have a bad taste in my mouth in how I ended the year and how well I was playing and how accountable I was for the people around me. And I love so many people in Kansas City, both in that facility and in the community and it’s home for me. I don’t want leave that life yet. I’ve put in a lot of hard work and a lot of focus into being the best that I can for KC.
“Last year, it didn’t end well for us and I feel like there is a responsibility in me to play out the contract that I initially signed, to give Kansas City and the Chiefs organization everything I’ve got and that’s what I’m gonna do, man.”
Kelce’s contract expires after the 2025 season, and the 10-time Pro Bowler has an $11.5 million roster bonus on March 15 that would trigger in the final year of his contract.
“Kansas City, baby, we’re back at it for at least once more year,” Travis said. “I can’t say whether or not this is going to be the last year because I still love a lot of what I do for the city and the Chiefs organization. I know I got one on my contract and I’m gonna give you guys everything I got baby.”
The three-time Super Bowl champ had the worst statistical season of his career in this past season.
Travis tallied 823 yards with three touchdowns on 97 catches in 2024.
Kelce broke the news of his return by telling ESPN’s Pat McAfee he will play a 13th NFL season.
That day, the “New Heights” podcast posted the news on X: “From the desk of @tkelce : ITS TIME FOR YEAR 13.”
The future Hall of Fame тιԍнт end has 1,004 career receptions for 12,151 yards and 77 touchdowns.
