Turns out, Travis Kelce wasn’t feeling his best heading into Super Bowl LIX.
Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach revealed on the NFL Insiders podcast (Tuesday, February 25) that Kelce was dealing with a “pretty big illness” leading up to the big game.
While Veach didn’t use Kelce’s condition as an excuse for the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on February 9, he admitted, “With the way the Eagles played, it wouldn’t have made a difference.”
What’s Next for Kelce?
Amid speculation about Kelce’s future in the NFL, Veach made it clear that the 35-year-old tight end isn’t planning to retire just yet.
“I think Travis is excited to come back,” Veach said. “He makes us better when he’s in the locker room and on the field. We’re excited to get him back.”
Kelce Reflects on the Chiefs’ Loss
Kelce had already addressed the Chiefs’ Super Bowl performance during the February 12 episode of New Heights, his podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce.
“Outside of the game, I just wanted to thank my teammates for everything they f—ing do, man,” he said. “The effort, the focus, the work we put in — that wasn’t the reason [we lost].”
Despite feeling confident going in, Kelce admitted the game just didn’t go their way.
“I’m kicking myself for some of the tiny decisions I made on the field, trying to do more than what I was asked to do,”
Kelce also acknowledged the harsh reality of the sport, especially on football’s biggest stage.
“Every time we felt like we got something going, it would turn,” he said. “To have it happen for the second time in my career in a Super Bowl … it’s a tough pill to swallow. This sport can humble you quite fast.”
Eagles’ Redemption and Chiefs’ Missed Opportunity
The Chiefs had the chance to secure a historic third straight Super Bowl title, but the Eagles dominated most of the game, keeping Kansas City off the scoreboard until the third quarter. The Eagles’ 40-22 victory served as redemption for their 2023 Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs.
Speaking after the game, Kelce gave credit where it was due.
“Hats off to the Eagles, man. They got after us—on all three phases,” he said. “We just couldn’t get it going offensively … turnovers, penalties, dropped passes—it all played a role. You don’t lose like that unless everything goes wrong.”
Though the loss was a tough one, it looks like Kelce is already gearing up for another shot at the title next season.