Patrick Mahomes breaks silence as Travis Kelce confirms final Kansas City Chiefs retirement decision
Quarterback’s future was revealed on air
PATRICK MAHOMES has broken his silence after Travis Kelce confirmed his Kansas City Chiefs retirement decision.
Kelce’s future with the Chiefs has been up in the air since a 40-22 Super Bowl defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Travis Kelce pictured with Patrick MahomesCredit: AP
But ESPN personality Pat McAfee claimed the tight end WILL remain with the Chiefs and Mahomes next season.
Quarterback Mahomes responded by posting a GIF of NBA legend Michael Jordan’s bodyguard John Michael Wozniak giving a joyful shrug.
McAfee told ESPN viewers that Kelce is “for sure” playing for the Chiefs in the 2025 season.
The former NFL punter-turned-pundit read out loud a text he claimed was from Kelce, hinting that he would play in his 13th NFL campaign.
“I’m coming back, for sure,” Kelce told McAfee in a text. “Gonna try and get to the best shape I’ve been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop.
“Got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and how I got the guys ready for battle. I can’t go out like that!!!!”
The announcement comes after weeks of speculation about Kelce’s future following the Chiefs’ disastrous Super Bowl 59 loss.
Kelce posted just four receptions for 39 yards in the big game showdown in New Orleans.
The three-time Super Bowl winner has been non-committal about his playing future after the defeat.
“[I’m going to] take some time to figure it out,” Kelce said during last week’s edition of New Heights.
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The tight end will receive a $12.5 million roster bonus if he’s on the Chiefs by March 15, per Spotrac.
Kelce would also receive an additional $4.5 million in base salary in 2025.
If the Chiefs cut or trade Kelce, the franchise will receive $17 million in cap space.
If Kelce does decide to call it quits, he is reportedly expected to tell the Chiefs before his bonus hits.
He is coming off a down year by his standards, recording 823 receiving yards, the lowest total since his second season in 2014.
The latest retirement decision update on Kelce comes after Chiefs general manager Brett Veach announced on Tuesday that Kelce will be back for the 2025 campaign.
While at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Veach said Kelce was “fired up” about entering the final year of his contract and playing.
“We left it as, he’d be back, and we’re excited to get him back and get him going,” he added.
If Kelce returns, that means he will have a shot at earning a fourth Super Bowl ring.
Kelce believes he can play in the NFL for another three seasons, an insider told The U.S. Sun after the Super Bowl.
