Travis Kelce didn’t look far for inspiration when he pondered a return for a 14th NFL season.
During an appearance Tuesday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the superstar Chiefs tight end spoke about how his fiancée, pop superstar Taylor Swift, served as a motivating factor in deciding to run it back with Kansas City following an offseason filled with retirement buzz.
“We share the same love for what we do. 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, and on top of that, still seeing her have that love and joy in what she does, and yeah, of course, that’s motivating. That’s motivating for anyone to see, let alone my fiancée, and knowing that I’m going through something where I’m trying to figure out exactly what the future holds for me, something like that definitely motivates me to say, You know what, I’m not done either,’” Kelce said.
Speculation about Kelce’s next move began after the Chiefs wrapped a disappointing 6-11 season, in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
A Chiefs-Kelce reunion came to fruition Monday, when the tampering period of free agency opened, with the parties agreeing on a one-year, $12 million pact worth up to $15 million.
“Man, I’m still in love with this game, I still love going to work and putting on the pads, grinding it out and just playing the game,” the All-Pro tight end, 36, told McAfee.
Kelce won three Super Bowls for Kansas City, the most recent being in February 2024, when he celebrated alongside Swift, 36.
First linked in 2023, Swift has supported Kelce at Chiefs games over the past three seasons, while the 14-time Pro Bowler also hit the road with the 11-time Grammy winner as part of her blockbuster Eras Tour in 2024.
They announced their engagement last August — two months before Swift dropped her recent album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
Kelce and Swift are expected to tie the knot this summer.
