Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs teammate Rashee Rice claims HE convinced star tight end to play one more season – not Taylor Swift :

“I ain’t gonna lie to y’all, I’m 95 percent of the reason he ain’t retiring,” he told REVOLT Sports. Told him he can’t go out like that. I’m gonna make sure we get that next year.
“He was finna hang it up. I’m pretty sure he was gonna hang it up. And I’m like, ‘Bro, we can’t go out like that.’ I texted him. He basically was like, ‘bro, I really appreciate that.

“He’s like, ‘you really got me thinking about it. I really appreciate you reaching out to me.’ And then I seen it pop up on the media. I said, ‘all right now.'”

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Kelce debated retiring following the Chiefs’ brutal Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The legendary tight end had a quiet night in that game, catching just four passes for 39 yards,

However, he eventually decided to put that performance behind him and return for the last year on his contract with the Chiefs.

Rice spoke out about Kelce’s return, taking credit for swaying him back to football.

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“I ain’t gonna lie to y’all, I’m 95 percent of the reason he ain’t retiring,” he told REVOLT Sports.

“Told him he can’t go out like that. I’m gonna make sure we get that next year.

“He was finna hang it up. I’m pretty sure he was gonna hang it up. And I’m like, ‘Bro, we can’t go out like that.'”

Rice is only 24 years old and heading into his third NFL season, so he has a long career ahead of him after the Super Bowl loss.

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However, the Super Bowl could have been the last game of Kelce’s career.

“I texted him. He basically was like, ‘bro, I really appreciate that,'” Rice said.
Travis Kelce in 8-word message over his Kansas City Chiefs retirement decision after he ‘let them down’ at Super Bowl
“He’s like, ‘you really got me thinking about it. I really appreciate you reaching out to me.’

“And then I seen it pop up on the media. I said, ‘all right now.'”

Kelce himself has admitted that his performance in the Super Bowl was below his standards.

“I feel like I owe the guys that I come into that building with a whole lot more effort and focus,” he said on the New Heights podcast.

“I just don’t know what it was during that game man, I wasn’t at my best.

NFL important dates 2025 season

March 12 – Free Agency begins

April 24-26 – NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin

September 4 – 2025 season opener (TBC vs Eagles)

November 27 – Thanksgiving Day triple header

January 4, 2026 – End of regular-season

February 8, 2026 – Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California

“The more that I see clips or watch the film and put myself back into those moments, man, I’m just like ‘what the f***.'”

That poor performance could have helped convince him to return and prove he can do better.

It will be interesting to see how Kelce performs in his 13th season in the NFL this year.

In 2024 he posted the worst marks of his career, going for 823 yards with three touchdowns.

He still made the Pro Bowl, but Kelce certainly showed signs of decline over the season.