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Patrick Mahomes Sends Strong Message on Travis Kelce's 'Last' Year

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emily Bicks | Last updated May 29, 2025 3:45 PM ET

Following the Kansas City Chiefs' blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, tight end Travis Kelce not only committed to return for the 2025 NFL season, he also promised to get into the best shape of his life.

"My dog!!! I'm coming back for sure," Kelce wrote in a text message to ESPN host Pat McAfee in late February. "Gonna try and get to the best shape I've been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop.

"Got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and how I got the guys ready for battle. I can't go out like that!!!!"

Over the past several months, Kelce hunkered down in Boca Raton, Florida to focus on his training before reporting to Organized Team Activities this week.

During a press conference on May 29, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes addressed if this upcoming season could possibly be Kelce's final year in the NFL.

While Kelce's $34.25 million contract is set to expire following the 2025-26 season, Mahomes isn't sure he's ready hang up his cleats.

"If it's the last ride, you'd never know," Mahomes said. "The way he's talking about football, the way he’s talking about working, trying to be even better this year than he was last year -- it doesn't seem like a guy that it’s his last ride, like he’s tired of the job."

Patrick Mahomes on this potentially being Travis Kelce's last year: "If it's the last ride, you would never know ... It doesn't seem like a guy that it's his last ride - or he's tired of the job." #Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/iZZYAupzXv
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) May 29, 2025

"He's in here, he's working. I know his body feels good. I think it feels even better than ever last year before going into last season just because I think he's motivated to go out there and have even better year than he has this last."

Kelce finished the 2024 regular season with the fewest receiving yards (823), touchdowns (3) and yards per reception (8.5) of his career, excluding his rookie year, when he played in only one game.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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