The Kansas City Chiefs were one win away from making NFL history. No team had won three straight Super Bowls in the modern era, and with Patrick Mahomes as their leader, the Chiefs seemed destined to cement their dynasty. But instead of celebrating, they walked off the field at the Caesars Superdome with their heads down in silence after a 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59.
Despite a dominant 15-2 regular season, the Chiefs’ offense had its struggles throughout the year, finishing with a PFSN Offense+ rating of 78.9 (C+). Those issues came back to haunt them at the worst possible time possible, as Mahomes found himself under pressure most of the night and Kansas City’s playmakers failed to step up.
No one struggled more than Travis Kelce, the team’s most trusted postseason weapon, who was almost invisible when the Chiefs needed him most.
Chiefs GM Reveals the Truth Behind Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl Performance
While many speculated about and even criticized Kelce’s effort level during the game, Chiefs GM Brett Veach revealed in an interview with Tom Pelissero that Kelce was dealing with an illness leading up to Super Bowl Sunday.
“He was battling with a pretty big illness,” Veach said. However, despite the disappointing finish, Veach made it clear that the team doesn’t believe this will be Kelce’s last game. “I think that Travis is excited to come back.”
#Chiefs GM Brett Veach told me Travis Kelce “was battling with a pretty big illness” before the Super Bowl. But the team doesn’t believe that loss to the #Eagles will be Kelce’s last game. At age 35, “I think that Travis is excited to come back.”
Full interview on The Insiders: pic.twitter.com/aJrFtsW6Dw
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 26, 2025
The 35-year-old tight end’s struggles are impossible to ignore. A future Hall of Famer and one of the greatest postseason performers in NFL history, Kelce finished Super Bowl 59 with just four catches for 39 yards and no touchdowns. He looked noticeably slower, with his usual bursts of speed missing, and his blocking effort drew criticism from fans and analysts alike.
Kelce’s Super Bowl 59 Performance Sparks Controversy
Recently, former NFL offensive lineman and three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth didn’t hold back when discussing Kelce’s lackluster play.
Kelce’s passive approach on multiple plays didn’t go unnoticed. Whether it was due to exhaustion from the illness or something else entirely, his effort level was a major talking point after the game.
“He was absolute garbage in that game. There’s a clip of him just standing around while Patrick Mahomes is scrambling and getting hit. And Chiefs fans kill me. They defend him, saying, ‘Oh, he saw the flag, that’s why he stopped!’
“Really? He stood there for four seconds before the flag was even thrown. And let’s say it was a holding call — if Mahomes fumbled and the Eagles recovered, could they not decline the penalty?”
Mahomes targeted him six times in Super Bowl 59, and while he caught four of them, his impact was minimal. The Eagles’ defense deserves credit for limiting him, but this was not the Kelce fans had grown accustomed to seeing in the postseason.
What’s Next for Travis Kelce?
With the Super Bowl loss fresh in everyone’s mind, speculation about Kelce’s future has ramped up. Retirement rumors have swirled for months, fueled by his expanding media presence and relationship with Taylor Swift. But Kelce addressed those rumors himself on New Heights, making it clear he’s taking time to decide.
“I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it’s gonna be a wholehearted decision,” he said. “I think I can still play, it’s just whether or not I’m motivated.”
NFL insider Adam Schefter also recently reported that Kelce is leaning toward returning in 2025, stating, “That’s not how he wants to end his NFL career.”
If Kelce does return, there’s no doubt he’ll be motivated to silence his critics. The Chiefs’ dynasty isn’t over, but their loss in Super Bowl 59 proved that nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. And for Travis Kelce, there may be one final chapter left to write before he sails off into the sunset with Taylor Swift.
