Travis Kelce Had 'Pretty Big Illness' Before Super Bowl 59 vs. Eagles, Chiefs GM Says

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on Tuesday that veteran tight end Travis Kelce was under the weather ahead of the team's 40-22 blowout loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.

"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, 35, registered career lows in receiving yards (823) and touchdowns (three) during the 2024 season, though he still caught 97 passes and was fantastic in the team's win over the Houston Texans during the AFC Divisional Round, notching seven receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown.

He was more muted in the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills, however, with just two catches for 19 yards. And he undeniably had a rough Super Bowl (four catches for 39 yards) that included a dropped pass and some rough sequences as a blocker.

Given his age and declining production, his potential retirement became a natural talking point following the Super Bowl loss, though Veach indicated Tuesday that all signs point to Kelce playing the 2025 season.

"How we left at the end of the season is that he was fired up," he told reporters. "I think we left it as he'd be back and were excited to get him back and get him going."

Those plans could obviously change, of course. Head coach Andy Reid told reporters Tuesday that he told Kelce to take some time to relax and mull over his future before coming to a decision.

"For right now, I think that's what he's doing," Reid added of Kelce taking some time to reflect.

Kelce's likely return shouldn't come as a major surprise—it's been clear that the comprehensive Super Bowl loss left a bad taste in his mouth. The future Hall of Famer would likely prefer to author a better exit than that one.