Chiefs break their silence about Travis Kelce’s retirement decision

Despite hinting that he could hang his cleats up following the Chiefs humiliating Super Bowl defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce confirmed Thursday, via Pat McAfee, that he would not be retiring this year.

Hours later the Chiefs broke their silence with a short and simple statement, doubling down on the legendary tight end’s decision.

‘YEAR 13,’ the franchise’s official X account posted, alongside a photo of a beaming Kelce suited up in Chiefs uniform.

The number 13 holds importance for Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift. It is the pop star’s favorite number, and she has regularly used it in her music career, even painting it on her hand during her ‘Speak Now’ tour.

And sources told DailyMail.com earlier this week that the significance might impact Kelce’s decision to return.

‘He has stated that he is not superstitious, but he has discussed with Taylor that this year will be his 13th year in the NFL, which is her favorite number, and they have talked about how cool it would be for him to play this year, and how poetic it would be if it were his last,’ the source added.

The 35-year-old was unsure about his playing future after the setback, saying on his subsequent New Heights podcast that he would ‘take some time to figure it out.’

‘The fact that we keep going to these AFC Championships and Super Bowls means I’m playing three games more than everyone else in the league,’ Kelce explained.

“That’s a lot of wear and tear on your body. It’s a lot of time spent in the building, focusing on your trade, the task at hand, and whatever challenges you set for yourself. That process might be exhausting.

It can weigh on you. It can make you better while also driving you insane… it did that to me this year.

Initial reports claimed Kelce had until March 14 to decide whether he would come back for another year, or call it quits.

Last week, however, his brother Jason suggested that, ‘in his heart,’ Travis has already made his choice.

Patrick Mahomes also addressed Kelce’s return earlier on Thursday, breaking his silence in a social media post.

Mahomes’s post showed Michael Jordan’s security guard, John Michael Wozniak, giving his infamous shrug after one of the basketball legend’s signature performances, as first displayed from the beloved ESPN documentary.

Kelce ranked fifth among tight ends in 2024 with 823 receiving yards, his lowest total since his sophomore year in 2014.

The tight end also had just three touchdown receptions this season and was quiet in Super Bowl LIX, which the Chiefs lost 40-22.

On Tuesday, at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, GM Brett Veach explained Kelce had been sick in the lead up to the game in New Orleans.

‘We’re never going to make excuses and talk about it but he was battling with a pretty big illness before the Super Bowl,’ he told NFL Network .

Veach added: ‘The way the Eagles played it wouldn’t have made a difference… we just picked a bad day to have a bad day.

‘But like anything in life, you learn more from the losses than the wins.’

Kelce’s future had been in doubt following the Super Bowl but on Tuesday Veach dropped a huge hint that the tight end would return for at least one more season.

‘We anticipate Travis being back,’ he said. ‘I think Travis is excited to come back… we’re excited to have Travis back and that’s how we’re operating this offseason.’