How Taylor Swift Inspired Travis Kelce’s Chiefs Return

Nearly a decade-and-a-half into his legendary NFL career, Travis Kelce has the biggest pop star on the planet at home to help keep him motivated. 

“We share the same love for what we do,” Kelce, 36, said of his fiancée, Taylor Swift, on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, March 10. “Fortunately, we’ve had this desire since we were kids in our selective professions. It’s amazing to see her keep going to the table, keep finding new things to write about, keep finding new melodies and things like that. On top of that, still seeing her have that love and joy in what she does.”

Kelce confirmed his NFL return during the interview, which comes after months of speculation that he might retire or explore free agency. 

The superstar tight end continued, “Of course that’s motivating. That’s motivating for anybody, let alone my fiancée. I’m going through something trying to figure out what exactly the future holds for me. Something like that definitely motivates me to say, ‘You know what, I’m not done either. I’ve still got some ideas in the back of my mind. I’ve still got some juice left to play this game.’”

Kelce admitted that he barely gave any consideration to retiring this offseason on the heels of the Chiefs’ first missed playoffs since 2014 — Kelce’s first full season in the NFL. 

“I’m not going to lie, it was pretty short and brief,” Kelce said. “The Chiefs knew where I was the entire time on it. You always need to take a step back, you always need to take a step back. Breathe. Let the emotions settle down and see where the body is and things like that.”

He added, “But I’m still in love with this game. I still love going to work, putting on the pads, grinding it out. Just playing the game.”

Kelce’s decision to return is a major puzzle piece of a complicated offseason for the Chiefs, which has already seen them sign Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III away from the Seattle Seahawks. 

“I think my best opportunity was playing for the Chiefs yet again and running this thing back with Pat Mahomes and Coach [Andy] Reid,” Kelce told McAfee, 38. 

Mahomes, 30, hinted at Kelce’s comeback via social media on Monday, March 9, posting two pictures of the decorated duo together via Instagram. The Chiefs quarterback — who is recovering from a season-ending ACL injury — added a clock and bow and arrow emojis to the post.