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By Cole Sullivan
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It didn’t take long this week, ahead of the new league year beginning Wednesday, for 36-year-old tight end Travis Kelce to make a final decision on whether he would return for a 14th season or potentially retire.
He ultimately decided to return, signing back with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he accepted less money to stay alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid — the team he’s spent his entire career with since being drafted in 2013.
Kelce broke his silence on Tuesday during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on ESPN, revealing that the decision wasn’t particularly difficult. He knew he wanted to come back and said the Chiefs were kept informed throughout the entire process.
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"I'm not gonna lie. It was pretty short and brief, and the Chiefs knew where I was the entire time on it," Kelce said. "You always need to take a step back … breathe, let the emotions of the season settle down and see where the body is. But, man, I'm still in love with this game. I still love going to work, putting on the pads, grinding it out, and just playing the game.
"And I think my best opportunity was playing for the Chiefs yet again. Running this thing back with Pat Mahomes and Coach Reid and having my guy Eric Bieniemy back — there’s a lot of pieces in Kansas City that I absolutely love, and I can't wait to get back in the building with them."
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Kelce began the interview with a massive smile on his face, making it clear how excited he is about the moves the Chiefs have already made early in free agency — particularly the addition of Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker.
“Let’s go. Making another run at it, baby … and the Chiefs are making moves, Pat. Chiefs are making moves. We got Brett Veach and Andy Reid going out and getting the Super Bowl MVP — are you kidding me!” Kelce said.
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The Chiefs obviously still have plenty of question marks after finishing 6–11 last season, missing the postseason for the first time in a decade and losing Mahomes to a season-ending torn ACL.
However, Mahomes remains determined to be back early in the season — potentially even by Week 1 — and Kelce doesn’t seem worried one bit about where Kansas City is heading into the 2026–27 season.
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