For the first time since 2022, Travis Kelce went to the Super Bowl as a fan rather than a player. Next year, he wants to be there in Los Angeles competing for glory with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kelce, 36, hasn’t officially announced if he will play on for one more season yet but after a long weekend of partying with fellow NFL players and celebrities, sources close to the player think he will confirm his return sooner than later.
The three-time Super Bowl winner hosted two parties in San Francisco and mingled with friends from across the game as he let loose without his fiancee, Taylor Swift. The feeling they all got, after spending time with him, is that he isn’t done yet.
One source told Daily Mail: ‘Travis wasn’t on his retirement tour this weekend.
‘He was living it up at all the parties with his friends and NFL buddies but it was his time to unwind, have a guys’ weekend, let Taylor do what she wanted to do.
‘He was telling friends that asked that he has made a decision about his NFL future and everyone believes 100% that he is coming back.’
Despite a wild week in San Francisco, Travis Kelce still prefers playing over partying
The Chiefs star is expected to return to Kansas City for one more season in the NFL
One of his most trusted Chiefs teammates, Creed Humphrey, insisted he had not spoken to Kelce about his decision, instead wanting him to have the space to decide what suits him best. But he made his own view very clear.
‘I haven’t talked to him about it but obviously we would all love to have him back,’ Humphrey told Daily Mail.
Despite an impressive individual campaign for Kelce, the Chiefs failed to get to the playoffs during a season where quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL, potentially putting him at risk of missing the start of the next campaign.
But Humphrey said that, hopefully lining up alongside Kelce, the team will right the wrongs of last season in 2026.
‘Everybody is ready to get back to work and show who we are next year,’ Humphrey said.
‘Patrick is doing good, he’s attacking rehab the right way. I know him, and of course he’s attacking it. It’s definitely different (not being here to play) but it’s awesome to be a part of this (Super Bowl week) in terms of seeing all these other great players.’
The source close to Kelce backed that up, saying that the tight end wants another season linking up with his close friend Mahomes once he is healthy again.
‘Being around the Super Bowl and everyone got him all jazzed up to be in the league still, and he wants to return to the game,’ the source said. ‘Play one more time with Patrick and get the band back together.
Kelce was brought out onto the field shortly before the beginning of the Super Bowl
Next year, he hopes to be there in Kansas City Chiefs uniform and playing in the game
‘He will make things official in about a month but everyone that was around him was talking about how he was coming back. It is just something that everyone is feeling and the vibe he gave off during the entire weekend.’
At Chiefs HQ in Kansas City, the team led by head coach Andy Reid have done everything to entice Kelce into returning.
Reid has even brought in Eric Bienemy, a coach Kelce has always spoken highly of, to work again as Chiefs’ offensive coordinator while team owner Clark Hunt has echoed Humphrey’s comments about wanting Kelce to play on.
Kelce was even brought out onto the field on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium as a finalist for the Walter Payton award, which praises NFL players for their charity work. But it was as close as he got to the action.
Next year, at LA’s stunning SoFi Stadium, he wants to be on the field and end his glorious career in the best way imaginable.