Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has solidified his legacy as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. Despite many speculating that his career might be nearing its end after the Chiefs' 40-22 Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce recently shared on his "New Heights" podcast that it was actually that painful defeat that motivated him to continue playing.
Travis Kelce: the loss that sparked the fire
Kelce, 35, admitted that the Super Bowl loss against Philadelphia Eagles played a significant role in his decision to return for another season.
It was probably the biggest factor, Kelce revealed. I mean, it's a pretty cool way to go out, but I just think I would still have this love for the game... I think I would have thought about it more if we would've won.
Despite a tough game where he caught only four passes for 39 yards, Kelce expressed his continued passion for the sport.
Travis Kelce reflecting on the 2024 season
Statistically, the 2024 season was not Kelce's best. With 97 catches for 823 yards and just three touchdowns, it marked his lowest output since his rookie year in 2013.
However, Kelce remains confident in his abilities.
I think the biggest thing is that I f-----g love playing the game of football, Kelce said. I love playing. I still feel like I can play it at a high level and possibly at a higher level than I did last year.
He also acknowledged that he did not perform up to his usual standards, stating,
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.
Travis Kelce's commitment to Kansas City
The tight end’s connection to Kansas City runs deep, and he made it clear that he is not ready to walk away from the community that has embraced him.
I love so many people in Kansas City, both in that facility, in the community, and it's home for me now, he said.
Kelce expressed his commitment to finishing his contract and continuing to give everything he has for the Chiefs.
I just feel like there's a responsibility in me to play out the contract that I initially signed, to give Kansas City and the Chiefs organization everything that I've got, and that's what I'm going to do, man.
Travis Kelce’s legacy in the making
Kelce is already one of the most accomplished tight ends in NFL history. He holds numerous franchise records for the Chiefs, including the most receptions (1,004), receiving yards (12,151), and receiving touchdowns (77).
His 12,151 career receiving yards rank third all-time among tight ends, behind only Jason Witten and fellow Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez. Kelce’s 69.4 receiving yards per game are the highest of any tight end in history, and he also holds records for the most 1,000-yard seasons (7) and 100-yard receiving games (38) by a tight end.
As Kelce enters another season, he has the opportunity to further solidify his Hall of Fame-worthy career.
