Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl 2025 performance was suboptimal.
That might’ve been because his health could’ve been described in much the same way.
Kansas City general manager Brett Veach was asked during an interview with NFL Network at the scouting combine about which version of Kelce the Chiefs could expect if he returns next year, and the executive revealed the 35-year-old tight end was not feeling himself in the lead-up to the big game.
“We’re never going to make excuses and talk about it, but he was battling with a pretty big illness there before the Super Bowl,” he said. “But listen, the way the Eagles played, it wouldn’t have made a difference.”
Kelce was a non-factor in the first half with no catches, and he finished the blowout loss to the Eagles with four grabs (six targets) for 39 yards.
The low-output game was one game after Kelce was held to two catches and 19 yards in the AFC title game.
Kelce has faced lingering questions about his NFL future and if he will retire.
After 12 seasons, 10 Pro Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl wins and becoming the NFL’s all-time leader in postseason receptions, there hasn’t been a lot Kelce hasn’t accomplished.
But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the drive to compete anymore.
In fact, when Veach was asked by The Post earlier on Tuesday about Kelce, he said the four-time All-Pro is likely to come back.
“He has one more year under contract,” Veach said. “Still think he has that fire and desire to play. As far as I’m concerned, there is no deadline [for a decision] I think we left it as he’d be back. And we’re excited to get him back and get him going.”