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NEED TO KNOW
- Travis Kelce said he’s focused on becoming a stronger leader for the Chiefs after their disappointing 2025 season
- “That’s one of those things, I want to be one of those guys that everybody counts on,” Kelce said in a press conference
- Kelce confirmed in March he’s returning for his 14th NFL season, ending months of speculation about his possible retirement
Travis Kelce is setting some goals for the upcoming NFL season.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 36, reflected on the team’s challenging 2025 season and looked ahead to the next — and this year, he said, he’s committed to being a reliable figure on the team when the going gets tough.
“Just being a better leader. When we get stuck, with adversity hitting, who’s going to want you in that foxhole with you?” Kelce said during a press conference at Chiefs training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 12. “That’s one of those things, I want to be one of those guys that everybody counts on to be there and get us out of that foxhole.”
Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty
“There were things I could have done better in that regard,” he continued, adding, “I feel ready to rock and roll. Just trying to make sure I set that example for the guys around me, that this is the standard.”
The team finished the 2025 season 6-11, a disappointing result for the Chiefs after three consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the three seasons prior.
Kelce’s comments come months after he confirmed that he’s returning for his 14th season with the Chiefs in March, ending speculation that he might retire after the 2025 season. He shared his decision during an appearance on the Pat McAfee show, saying that he’s “still in love with this game.”
On July 16 — less than two weeks after he tied the knot with Taylor Swift — Kelce was spotted returning to training in Florida for the upcoming season. Not long after, he was back in Kansas City for the Chiefs’ first day of training camp.
Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty
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The Chiefs’ season officially ended on Jan. 4, and for the first time in over a decade, the team didn’t qualify for the playoffs. Kelce said that’s been a huge motivator for him and his teammates as they train for the 2026 season.
“Everybody feels everything’s got to get turned up a little bit, and that’s what you’re seeing right now,” Kelce said Wednesday.
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