Travis Kelce Battled Illness Before Super Bowl Loss, Says Chiefs GM

Kansas City Chiefs' General Manager, Brett Veach, shared insights regarding Travis Kelce's health before Super Bowl LIX, a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, PEOPLE reported. This revelation emerged during Veach's interview on the NFL podcast, "The Insiders."

Veach emphasized that Kelce faced significant health challenges as the team prepared for the February 9 game. Although he avoided attributing the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss to the illness, he mentioned that Kelce was "battling a pretty big illness." Despite this setback, Veach acknowledged the Eagles’ strong performance that day. He remarked, "We didn’t have the end to our season that we hoped for."

When reflecting on the team's setback, Veach stated they "picked a bad day to have a bad day." However, he remained optimistic, suggesting that they would channel this experience as inspiration for improvement. "You learn more from your losses than your wins," he pointed out.

In the same discussion, Veach responded to rumors surrounding Kelce’s potential retirement. When questioned about his return for the upcoming 2025 season, Veach confidently stated, "I think so. We anticipate Travis being back." He expressed enthusiasm about Kelce's expected return, highlighting the tight end’s valuable on-field presence. Veach added, "He makes us better when he’s in our locker room."

Veach spoke fondly of the bond between Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, emphasizing how Kelce maintains his fitness and continues to produce exceptional performance levels. He acknowledged Kelce’s unique capability to elevate those around him.

On February 12, Kelce discussed his NFL future during an episode of his podcast, "New Heights," which he co-hosts with brother Jason Kelce. "I know everybody wants to know whether or not I'm playing next year. Right now, I'm just kicking everything down the road," he shared. He expressed the importance of mutual support and understanding among teammates.

Jason Kelce offered his perspective during the February 21 episode of "The Steam Room." He suggested that Travis may have already made a decision about his future, stating, "I think he probably, in his heart, already knows what he wants to do."

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