After a tough Super Bowl defeat against the Eagles, rumors swirled about Travis Kelce’s future. Patrick Mahomes finally opens up about whether the star tight end considered retirement and what this means for the Chiefs’ quest to bounce back stronger than ever.

© Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesPatrick Mahomes quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes said he never spoke with Travis Kelce about the possibility of the tight end retiring after last season. The quarterback admitted that his teammate took a few weeks to make a choice, but, despite how tough the physical part of the offseason is, he decided another shot was worth it.

“We never talked about it (Kelce’s retirement). I think, you have that in the back of your mind. For anybody that’s played a lot of football seasons, there’s always a chance if they’re going to come back and put in the work in the offseason. I think everybody wants to play the games, but, putting in the work in the offseason is where stuff gets strenuous. So, for him, I think it was just recalibrating and seeing where he’s at.”

Kelce has publicly admitted that he feels he let his teammates down in the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles and, as a result, the search for redemption could be the main motivation to try to end his career on a high note with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Is Travis Kelce retiring with Chiefs?

Travis Kelce is not retiring from football at the moment. The tight end has confirmed that he will play the 2025 season and that, depending on how it goes, he will sit down with the team’s ownership to discuss his future.

Given this scenario, Patrick Mahomes acknowledged that this is the mindset for Kelce: win-now mode regardless of what happens in 2026. That explains the significant weight the tight end has lost, thinking about being in his prime.

“From what I’ve seen, and I think you all can see it, he’s ready to go. He’s been putting the work this offseason and he’s excited for another chance to make a run at it.”