Travis Kelce's attitude about Super Bowl LIX loss won't help Chiefs return to the big game

How does a team move on from a crushing Super Bowl loss? According to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, forget about it immediately. 

The Philadelphia Eagles dismantled the Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans last season. While it was disappointing for the TE, Kelce said he moved on from it quickly. 

"I've thrown that thing in the trash," the TE told the media at training camp Wednesday. "I've moved on. It happened sooner than you can imagine. I was pretty focused on this year in the offseason." 

But can the Chiefs simply trash the Super Bowl loss, or will its effects linger throughout the season? History says the latter. 

Just six teams have made it back to the big game after losing the previous season. Of those six teams, just three have won it: the 1971 Dallas Cowboys, 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2018 New England Patriots. 

The San Francisco 49ers imploded last season after losing Super Bowl LVIII to the Chiefs. They went 6-11, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. 

The 49ers lost several stars to injury, including running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee). The injury bug could already be biting Kansas City.

Kelce, who turns 36 on Oct. 5, just had a major admission about his injury status. Meanwhile, two of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' top targets are both dealing with injuries early in camp. Meanwhile, Kansas City is also dealing with a few glaring concerns in camp.

The Chiefs also may face increased competition in the AFC West. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is confident his team is a Super Bowl contender. New Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, meanwhile, thinks the Silver and Black are being underestimated. And the Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a playoff trip in their first season under HC Jim Harbaugh. 

Forgetting about the loss may not help the Chiefs. They must learn from it to navigate what should be a difficult path back to a championship.