Taylor Swift Hand on Travis Kelce's Chest Looking Off Into Crowd at AFC Championship Game 2025
Photo: Getty Images

It looks like Taylor Swift will be in the bleachers during the next NFL season. Travis Kelce has officially announced that he is not retiring just yet, which means more Easter egg-filled game-day looks from his biggest cheerleader.

During Thursday’s episode of the Pat McAfee Show, the host read a text from Kelce on-air that shared his official decision after much speculation about his retirement. McAfee confirmed that, per his text, Kelce would be “coming back for sure.”

Travis Kelce Arm Around Smiling Taylor Swift After AFC Championship Win 2024
Getty Images

“Gonna try and get to the best shape I’ve been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop,” McAfee read from Kelce’s message. “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!!!!”

Following the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss at Super Bowl LIX, Kelce addressed the rumors during the February 12 episode of his “New Heights” podcast, though he didn’t share his final verdict.

“I know everybody wants to know whether or not I’m playing next year, and right now, I’m just kicking everything down the road. I’m not making any crazy decisions. I’m gonna take some time to figure it out,” he said at the time. “And, I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it’s a wholehearted decision. I’m not half-assing it, and I’m fully here for them.”

Taylor Swift Arms Around Travis Kelce Kissing After Super Bowl LVIII February 11, 2024
Getty Images

Kelce had previously signed a two-year contract last year, with reports noting that he would receive an $11.5 million bonus if he were to commit to the 2025 season by March 14. Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach, however, said there was no deadline when it came to Travis.

Taylor Swift Cheering at Kansas City Chiefs Game September 24, 2023
Getty Images

“How we left it at the end of the season is that he was fired up,” he said during an episode of The Rich Eisen Show. “He has one more year under contract. I still think he has that fire and desire to play.”

He added, “As far as I’m concerned, there is no deadline,” he said. “I think we left it as he’d be back, and we’re excited to get him back and get him going.”

His older brother and podcast co-host Jason, who retired from the NFL himself last year, spoke about the Travis’s looming decision during a prior appearance on The Steam Room. “I think Travis, I think he probably, in his heart, already knows what he wants to do,” Jason had said. “That’s the reality of it.”