Travis Kelce is officially returning to the NFL this season, and fans have Taylor Swift to thank for the good news.
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With Kelce and Swift busy planning their wedding, there was some speculation that the 36-year-old would retire. He also has an amusement park empire to run.
But all those presumptions were put to rest when the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs announced his decision to play this season on The Pat McAfee Show today, March 10.
"Let's go! Making another run at it, baby, and the Chiefs are making moves, Pat," said Kelce.
Travis Kelce Still Has Something to Prove
Kelce had a solid 2025 season. He recorded 76 receptions for over 850 receiving yards. However, the Chiefs failed to reach the playoffs this season.
Despite the team's new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, being optimistic that he would return, Kelce wasn't sure at the end of the season if he would lace up his cleats again.
"I think I'm still searching for those answers," he told retired NFL star Tony Gonzalez back in January. "I feel motivated, but I got to make the right decision for me."
But Kelce's search ended today, telling McAfee that he "still got some juice to play this game."
While his contract was set to expire on March 11, PEOPLE shared that Kelce had turned down some pretty high-priced offers from other teams to stay with Kansas City. He reportedly told the Chiefs he intended to return to the team on Monday.
Kelce Credits Taylor Swift With His Decision To Return
Kelce told McAfee that it is motivating for him to see Swift "keep going to the table, keep finding new things to write about, keep finding new melodies...and on top of that, still seeing her have that love and joy in what she does."
"We share the same love for what we do, and we've had this...desire," said Kelce. "I'm still in love with this game."
He added that he still loves "going to work, putting on the pads, grinding it out, and just playing the game." He believes that this season could mark the Chiefs' return to glory.
"I think my best opportunity was playing for the Chiefs yet again and running this thing back with Pat Mahomes and Coach Reid," added Kelce. "And got my guy Eric Bieniemy, Coach Bieniemy back, and there's a lot of pieces in Kansas City that I just absolutely love, and I can't wait to get back in the building with."
