Travis Kelce Says Decision to Return for Another NFL Season ‘Wasn’t a Very Tough’ One: ‘Got a Lot More to Prove’

When it came to making a decision about playing another NFL season, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said he had little hesitation.

“It wasn’t a very tough [decision] for me,” Kelce, 35, said on Wednesday, June 18. “I know I’m getting older, but at the same time I still feel like I got a lot that I can prove in this league. It really wasn’t that hard of a decision for me.”

Kelce, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and other Chiefs players spoke with the media after the team’s practice on Wednesday as Kansas City gears up for another run at the Super Bowl. 

The Chiefs were nearly blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles in February, falling short of winning a third-consecutive title.

The 40-22 loss left a bad taste in Kelce’s mouth, and he explained to reporters this week that he feels he has “a lot left to prove” before he retires.

“I really didn’t feel like it was my last game,” Kelce said. “Just felt like I’ve got a lot more to prove.”

“I’m only interested in Super Bowl rings,” he said, adding that his desire to win another championship ultimately helped him decide to return for another season.

“I love football,” Kelce said. “I don’t think I really thought about it that much. My friends and family and the team and the guys and women in this building, I love coming into work every single day.”

While Kelce didn’t think about it “that much,” he said that he did allow himself time to make the call.

“You want to let the emotions die down [after the end of the season],” he said. “That was the biggest thing — you don’t want to make decisions off initial emotions. But for the most part, once they died down, I still felt like I had that fire in my chest to be able to keep coming in and building and be better and chase another Super Bowl.”

Kelce said he felt like he “failed” after the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl in February.

“Last year I think I failed especially in that last game, in being a leader and being the one that can step up and make plays,” he said. “So just setting the bar even higher for myself this year than I have in the past. Last year wasn’t a success for me, and I’m motivated to make sure we get that other ring this year.”

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Before he and his Chiefs teammates returned to Kansas City to begin training for next season, Kelce appeared to enjoy his time off from the NFL.

He continued to host his New Heights podcast with brother Jason Kelce and traveled the world with girlfriend Taylor Swift, making several appearances together in recent weeks, including at the Stanley Cup Final last Thursday.

A source recently told PEOPLE that Swift, also 35, is equally as excited about Kelce’s decision to play another NFL season.

“Not just because she loves supporting Travis, but because for the first full season since they started dating, she’s not juggling a packed tour schedule,” the insider said.

The source added: “This fall will be completely different. It’s the first season where she’s not constantly flying back and forth or working around an entire touring calendar.”