Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has made a bold claim regarding teammate Travis Kelce's future, following a challenging 2024 campaign for the legendary tight end. While Kelce's stat line of 97 catches for 823 yards and three touchdowns would be stellar for most players at his position, it represented significant career lows for him outside his rookie year.
The season culminated in a particularly tough Super Bowl LIX loss, where the Chiefs fell 40-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles, dashing their historic three-peat hopes. Kelce managed just four catches for 39 yards in that game, drawing criticism and fueling widespread speculation about his potential retirement. However, the 35-year-old has silenced those whispers for now, reporting back to the Chiefs for the 2025 season and actively participating in training camp.
Observing Travis Kelce back on the field, Mahomes noticed a distinct fire within his longtime target and offered a telling perspective on what Kelce's presence signals about his future in Kansas City.
Patrick Mahomes sees no farewell tour: Travis Kelce's fire burns bright
The swirling retirement rumors haven't escaped Patrick Mahomes, but his close-up view of Travis Kelce at Organized Team Activities (OTAs) paints a very different picture than one might expect of a player nearing the end. When directly questioned about the possibility of this being Kelce's final NFL season, Mahomes offered a resounding rebuttal rooted in the tight end's current demeanor and dedication.
"If it’s the last ride, you would never know,” Mahomes stated emphatically. He pointed to Kelce's mindset as the clearest indicator, revealing, “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 like it’s his last ride, like he’s tired of the job.” This observation directly challenges the narrative that Kelce might be winding down.
Patrick Mahomes further emphasized Kelce's physical readiness and motivation. “He’s in here, he’s working. I know his body feels good,” the quarterback noted, adding a significant comparison, “I think he feels better than last year before going into last season. I think he’s motivated to go out there and have an even better year than he had this last.”
This suggests Kelce isn't just showing up; he's returning with a point to prove, driven by the disappointment of the previous season's ending – both the statistical dip and the Super Bowl defeat.
The context amplifies Mahomes' perspective. Kelce is entering the final year of his two-year, $34 million contract. His relatively quiet 2025 offseason, contrasting sharply with the prior year dominated by girlfriend Taylor Swift's Eras Tour appearances, also hints at a renewed focus solely on football. While engagement rumors circulate for the couple, they've largely stayed out of the public eye, allowing Kelce's actions at camp to speak loudest.
Mahomes' assessment is crucial. He sees not a player reluctantly fulfilling a final obligation, but a rejuvenated, highly motivated Travis Kelce determined to rebound from a subpar year by his own extraordinary standards and silence the doubters. The hunger Patrick Mahomes perceives strongly suggests Kelce's story with the Chiefs is far from over.