Travis Kelce's illustrious playing career is headed toward Year 13 -- a decision the 35-year-old made this past March after a month of uncertainty.
But speaking with the Kansas City media for the first time since deciding he will play in 2025, the Chiefs tight end indicated to reporters that a possible retirement wasn't strongly considered this past spring.
"I love football. I don't think I really thought about it that much," Kelce told reporters after Wednesday's minicamp practice. "... I love coming in to work every single day. It wasn't a very tough one for me. I know I'm getting older, but at the same time I still feel like I've got a lot I can prove in this league. With that being said, it really wasn't that hard of a decision for me."
As Kelce explained on his New Heights podcast three months ago, ending his career with a loss in Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles wasn't an ideal conclusion and if the Chiefs accomplished the first-ever Lombardi three-peat he "would have thought about [retirement] more."
Seemingly haunted by his own Super Bowl performance to this day -- a four-catch, 39-yard effort -- Kelce said he "felt like I failed my guys" this past February when reflecting on it more Wednesday and that he "really didn't feel like it was my last game."
Kelce also said that winning a title is the only acceptable result this year.
"That's the only way I determine if it's a successful (season) or not," he said. "It's just how I'm wired now."
Kelce's last Super Bowl performance was a continuation of his waning production last season. His 823 yards and three touchdowns in 2024 marked career lows (excluding a rookie season spent largely on the bench), and the impact he made throughout the season felt sparse compared to the numbers he'd put up year after year along a career that will one day end in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Last year's disappointing results have apparently bolstered his preparation for the 2025 season, and Kelce said he's lost "some weight" this offseason despite refuting reports of him losing 25 pounds.
"This year got some time to really focus on some form running and some things early on in the offseason that I just didn't have time for last year," he said. "Certainly feeling good, and I think it will pay off."
Patrick Mahomes indicated a difference in Kelce early this summer, too, saying three weeks ago that "If it's his last ride, you would never know" based on how he's looked during the team's offseason workout program.
The Chiefs' star quarterback furthered that point on Wednesday when asked about if he and Kelce ever talked about him retiring.
"We never talked about [retirement]," Mahomes told reporters. "I think you have that in the back of your mind. For anyone that's played a lot of football seasons, there's always a chance if they're gonna come back and put in [the work]. You have to put in the work. You have to put in the work in the offseason. I think everybody wants to play the games, but putting in the work in the offseasons where stuff gets strenuous. ... For him, I think it was just recalibrating, seeing where he's at. From what I've seen -- I think y'all can see it -- he's ready to go. He's been putting in the work this offseason, and he's excited for another chance to make a run for it."
Age-35 seasons are uncommon for star tight ends of recent time, but Kelce appears to be readying himself to become the next exception. While his future beyond this year will certainly be speculated going forward, Kelce made it clear that he's only focused on reaching the mountaintop once again despite any anything else.
"I got one year on this contract, I know that, and we'll try and figure out something for next year," Kelce said. "The Chiefs organization knows how much I love them. I can't see myself ever playing anywhere else. We'll deal with that down the road when the time is right, but right now I'm focused on winning a championship this year."
