Kelce: Last Season? Chiefs Tight End Eyes Super Bowl

Travis Kelce: A Final Dance for Glory with the Chiefs

In the final days of February, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce repeated over and over, both to himself and to those who questioned his future. His coach, Andy Reid; his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes; receiver Rashee Rice; his brother, Jason, former Philadelphia Eagles player, and even television presenter Pat McAfee, witnessed it.

“I can’t finish like this.”

Travis Kelce

Those six words have been Kelce’s driving force since the beginning of March, and they will be until next week, when the Chiefs kick off their season in São Paulo against the Los Angeles Chargers. This could be the last year of Kelce’s brilliant NFL career. Since announcing his return to the Chiefs at the end of February, everything indicates that the 2025 season will be Kelce’s last. In June, the player, who is in the last year of his contract, has spoken about his future with the team only for this season. Although the Chiefs organization, both in the management and in the business department, avoids using the word “retirement”, they have already expressed their gratitude for Kelce’s importance to the franchise and hope to enjoy his performances. If this is the last chapter, Kelce aspires to a dream ending. He wants to lead the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl and achieve the victory that eluded them last season. To achieve this, he seeks to maximize what he has left, combining the wisdom of his more than 12 seasons in the NFL with a renewed body, after an exhaustive preparation during the break. Kelce, who will turn 36 in October, is known for his ability to shine under the spotlight. He has been key in three Super Bowl victories, is the most prolific receiver in NFL postseason history, and redefined the tight end position with his innovative route running. He is aware that, once he hangs up his boots, more spotlights and cameras will be waiting for him to become an icon of American popular culture. But first, the Chiefs want Kelce to have a movie-like ending in February, emulating Hall of Fame players who said goodbye with a Super Bowl title, such as John Elway, Jerome Bettis, and Peyton Manning.

“Let’s hope he goes out like a champion,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said at the NFL Combine. “Let’s hope he has a magical season to finish a magical career.”

Brett Veach

The last time fans saw Kelce in action, the Chiefs were outmatched in Super Bowl LIX by the Eagles. Kelce, in the midst of a season with lows in receiving yards (823), yards per reception (8.5) and receiving touchdowns (3), had his worst performance on the biggest stage, leading analysts and fans to question his ability to continue being an effective player on a team with championship aspirations. Seven months later, Kelce, who ranks fifth in Chiefs history in games played (200), says he no longer worries about individual goals. He already has one of the best careers for a tight end in NFL history. He begins the season third in career receptions (1,004) and receiving yards (12,151), and fifth in receiving touchdowns (77). He and Mahomes have connected for 17 postseason touchdowns, the most for any duo in NFL history. This season, he’s playing for one reason: to win a fourth Super Bowl ring. “That’s the only way I’ll determine if it’s a success or not,” Kelce said.

Although Super Bowl LIX hadn’t finished yet, the scoreboards inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans showed that the Chiefs’ 2024 season, and their attempt to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls in the Super Bowl era, had concluded. In the moments before the Eagles’ celebration after their 40-22 victory, Mahomes greeted as many teammates as possible, thanking them for their dedication and camaraderie from the Chiefs’ sideline. When Mahomes reached Kelce, they shook hands, hugged, and told each other they loved each other.

“I owe you a lot for what you’ve done,” Kelce told Mahomes.

Travis Kelce

That scene was the first sign that Mahomes realized he might not have his reliable tight end for his next critical third-down play. During the two weeks after the game, Mahomes never broached Kelce about the possibility of retirement, but said the idea was always present.

“You have it in the back of your mind,” Mahomes said in June.

Patrick Mahomes

When Kelce decided to return for 2025, less than a week after the Super Bowl defeat, the first person he told was Reid, the only coach he has had in his NFL career. Two weeks later, at the Combine, the news of Kelce’s decision was shared on “The Pat McAfee Show”. During the program, McAfee read a text message he received from Kelce.

“I’ll be back, safe and sound. I’m going to try to get in the best shape I’ve been in this offseason and get back to the top,” Kelce wrote in the message. “I was left with a very bad taste in my mouth with my game in that last game and with the way I prepared the guys for the battle.

Travis Kelce

“I can’t finish like this!”

Travis Kelce

Later that Thursday, the podcast “New Heights”, hosted by Kelce and his brother Jason, posted a confirmation on X: “From the @tkelce office: IT’S YEAR 13 TIME.” One of the reasons Kelce decided not to retire is because he believed he could significantly improve his physical condition.

“I love football,” Kelce said. “It’s all I know, man. It’s still my childhood dream. I didn’t really feel like it was my last game.”

Travis Kelce

In June, a month before the Chiefs’ training camp, Kelce returned to a familiar environment. While conversing with reporters in front of a backdrop with the Chiefs logo, Kelce raised his hands and burst out laughing. He wanted to stop a rumor.

“First of all, I never said that,” Kelce said as he smiled, in an attempt to deny an ESPN report, sourced from someone in his inner circle, which claimed that Kelce had lost 25 pounds in the four months since the Super Bowl.

Travis Kelce

Then, with a quick sense of humor, Kelce showed his right index finger to the cameras.

“Don’t believe everything you read on the internet, guys, okay?”, Kelce said during the press conference. “I never told anyone”.

Travis Kelce

Then, with his head bowed, Kelce acknowledged the truth: in fact, he did lose some weight, an amount he considered necessary to be at his best in his 13th NFL season, although he refused to share the exact figure. Kelce’s first decision after making the decision was that his preseason routine would follow a simpler approach.

The previous spring and summer were the busiest of his life. He jumped from one event to another, from one part-time television job to another, and even had a supporting role in “Happy Gilmore 2”, the comedy starring Adam Sandler. And, of course, he traveled through Europe with his girlfriend Taylor Swift on many stops of her Eras Tour, even performing with her during a concert in London. During that time, one of his three personal trainers, Alex Skacel, Andrew Spruill, and Laurence Justin Ng, used to be with him, focused on maintaining his strength. This offseason was different. Kelce did what he did when he was a younger player: he trained in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with coach Tony Villani to regain some of the speed, agility, and quickness he felt he had lost over the years. Kelce focused a lot on plyometrics, sessions in which he wanted to gain greater explosiveness when changing direction, a trait he mastered early in his career when he had the ball in the middle of the field to elude defenders.

“You have to rebuild [your body]”, Kelce said. “This year, I had some time to really focus on running in shape and on some things at the beginning of the offseason that I just didn’t have time for last year. I certainly feel good and I think it will be worth it”.

Travis Kelce

Mahomes has noticed the work Kelce has done this offseason.

“For him, to recalibrate and see where he’s at, he’s excited for another opportunity to try,” Mahomes said. “He’s working and I know his body feels good. He feels better than even last year before going into last season.”

Patrick Mahomes

Kelce’s first test to see if his modified regimen worked was during the first week of the Chiefs’ training camp last month. Thinner and more energetic, Kelce made impressive plays that produced some of the loudest roars from the fans who attended the practices. In a one-on-one matchup with safety Jaden Hicks, Kelce caught the ball and made his signature hesitation and wiggle moves to evade Hicks and gain extra yards. And a few minutes later, Kelce ran an elegant seam route before leaping in the air to catch a pass between linebacker Nick Bolton and safety Bryan Cook. Kelce also showed off his restored explosiveness and acceleration as he ran down the sideline for a 40-yard touchdown, which led Reid to joke about the tight end’s physical transformation.

“He’s trim right now. He looks like he’s 20 years old,” Reid said, smiling. “He’s doing a good job and he’s in great shape. I’m not sure he hasn’t come in first on the whole conditioning thing. He was at the front.”

Andy Reid

The most important way Kelce can impact the Chiefs’ games this season, he says, is by being the best leader he can be for his teammates. Kelce learned why leadership was so important during last season’s playoff run. In the Chiefs’ 23-14 victory over the Houston Texans in the divisional round, Mahomes threw a perfect deep pass in the second quarter to receiver Hollywood Brown. But Brown couldn’t make the catch. On the next play, Mahomes relied on Kelce, who produced a memorable play. The Texans blitzed and Mahomes found Kelce, who broke two tackles, which he hadn’t done at any point in the regular season, according to TruMedia, for a 49-yard gain. The Chiefs finished the drive with running back Kareem Hunt’s 1-yard touchdown run. At the beginning of the final quarter, on a crucial third-and-goal play, Kelce recognized the Texans’ zone coverage and improvised his route, deciding to run to a different area of the end zone mid-play, but was still available and in sync with Mahomes for an 11-yard touchdown catch. The following week, in the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship, Kelce, who finished with only two receptions for 19 yards on four targets, was more impactful when he didn’t have the ball in his hands. Early in the first quarter, receiver Nikko Remigio opted for a punt at the Chiefs’ 10-yard line, even though he had plenty of room for a return.

“That’s not being great, brother,” Kelce said to Remigio after the play.

Travis Kelce

Inspired by Kelce’s words, Remigio had his biggest moment in the game in the second quarter. He ignited the Chiefs with an impressive kick return that went for 41 yards. “That’s how great you are, buddy!” Kelce shouted to Remigio after the play. The Chiefs capitalized on Remigio’s return when Mahomes scored on a 1-yard touchdown. The Chiefs’ final touchdown was set up on a designed run for Mahomes. On his 10-yard touchdown, Kelce was one of Mahomes’ lead blockers. But two weeks later, the Chiefs experienced misery, not history, in the loss to the Eagles. Days before facing the Eagles, Kelce began experiencing an illness, a detail Veach revealed at the Combine. During the game, he struggled in each of his assignments for the Chiefs’ game plan. His route running was slower than usual, his blocking was not up to par, and he was unable to make the play or say the right words to his teammates to help propel the Chiefs to a comeback. The game also marked the first time in Kelce’s playoff career that he did not have a reception in the first half.

“I failed, especially in that last game, in being a leader and being the one who can step up and make plays,” Kelce said. “I’m just setting the bar even higher this year than in the past.”

Travis Kelce

KELCE HAS continued to focus on leadership this summer, starting early at the Chiefs’ training camp, which was held on the campus of Missouri Western State University. Reid, an old-school coach starting his 27th season, is known for having one of the most grueling training camps in the NFL. The practice pace is faster than a game; projected starters get more reps than normal, and players routinely leave the fields drenched in sweat and nearly exhausted. Kelce knows that Reid’s camp can test a player’s true love for the sport, especially when one is in the twilight of their career. Despite entering Year 13, Kelce didn’t miss a single practice, constantly made athletic catches in the middle of the field, and stayed on the field to run more routes for Mahomes even after appearing fatigued in the previous repetition.

“I love being here,” said Kelce, who calls his time on the campus of St. Joseph, Missouri, his football sanctuary. “It takes me away from everything else that’s going on in this crazy world. You can really focus on your craft and focus on being the best you can be for the guys around you.”

Travis Kelce

At the beginning of the camp, Kelce welcomed several teammates to the same room where Reid gave his first speech of the season to the team, giving them small gifts from the movie “Happy Gilmore 2” before showing them a screening of the film a few days before its premiere on Netflix. As the movie played, Kelce sat in the back, enjoying watching his performance and listening to his teammates laugh. The next day, during the Chiefs’ most demanding practice of training camp, a sweltering 90-degree day where the heat index maxed out at over 100 degrees, rookie left tackle Josh Simmons hit rookie defensive end Ashton Gillotte after a tough rep in a 9-on-7 period. The first teammate to help separate the two rookies was Kelce.

“He does it in a way like, ‘I’ve been there, and you don’t want to do that,'” Reid said about Kelce. “The guys trust him. That’s the beautiful part of the job. You get to see guys mature like that. It’s probably no different than having kids. The thing is, it’s in front of everyone because of the [immature] things he used to do [when he was younger] on the field and losing his temper. People saw it. Now they see what he is today. There’s a difference.”

Andy Reid

As the longest-tenured player on the Chiefs, Kelce has essentially become an additional assistant coach. But Kelce wants to be more productive himself. After all, last year he ranked last in yards after catch over expected (YACOE) among receivers who ran at least 100 routes (minus 42). Kelce ran 525 routes in total. Kelce says he wants his presence, even as an overqualified decoy, and his skills to help develop the next generation of receivers for a franchise that hasn’t seen a 1,000-receiving-yard season since 2021 (Tyreek Hill). This offseason, Mahomes has further strengthened his connection with his non-Kelce receiving options, such as Rice, Brown, and fellow receivers Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster, as well as tight ends Noah Gray and Robert Tonyan and running back Isiah Pacheco. Throughout practices, several teammates on offense and defense have sought Kelce’s guidance on certain techniques, coverages, or the nuances of a specific play. Tonyan, a seven-year veteran who began his career with the Green Bay Packers alongside quarterback Aaron Rodgers, spent the camp learning everything he could from Kelce’s pre-snap reads against potential defensive coverages. Through two preseason games, Tonyan led the Chiefs with eight receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown.

“What better way to improve than to make sure we’re supporting each other?” Kelce said. “If I can give someone a word that improves them on that specific route or doing that specific drill, man, I’m here for that.”

Travis Kelce

The penultimate session of the Chiefs’ training camp was difficult. It was the team’s last on-field work with full pads before returning to their training facilities in Kansas City. Most of the players seemed ready to go back. The team’s first period was terrible for the offense. The defense created pressure to disrupt the offense’s timing, several players dropped passes, and Mahomes expressed his frustration. So…

“Travis beats his man one-on-one and breaks out for a 20-yard gain,” said passing game coordinator Joe Bleymaier. “He somehow set the tone for everyone, that ‘Hey, you get man-to-man coverage, we’re winning these routes! Let’s go!’

Joe Bleymaier

“When everyone was going through the dog days of camp, he was the one who made the one-on-one play. That somehow goes to that bigger picture of where you maybe don’t recognize the years as much because it’s the same old Travis. That’s what he’s always been doing”.

Joe Bleymaier

Kansas City hopes Kelce’s game and leadership will carry over to the games, starting next week, when the 2025 campaign opens against the Chargers in Brazil. The Chargers’ defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, could administer Kelce’s first stress test this season by assigning safety Derwin James Jr. in man-to-man coverage. In the teams’ matchup last December, Kelce was not targeted on 10 routes when James was the primary defender. As the year progresses, other opponents could try the Chargers’ strategy against Kelce, or what the Eagles did in the Super Bowl: dedicate two zone defenders to him. Kelce, however, is ready for whatever comes and is eager to show his mental and physical counterattacks, through a smoother route running, notable changes in his athleticism and a lot of internal inspiration to come out with exceptional performances, in what could be his last chance to do so.

“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “Let’s hope it ends in February.”

Travis Kelce