Travis Kelce Admits Taylor Swift Is The Reason He’s Returning In 2026

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Travis Kelce is returning to the Kansas City Chiefs. And he’s credited Taylor Swift with the decision.

Kelce agreed to a one-year deal with the Chiefs. Adam Schefter reports the contract guarantees the veteran tight end $12 million, while he could make as much as $15 million. 

“Chiefs are giving free-agent TE Travis Kelce a one-year, $12 million deal that has a max value of $15 million, per source,” Schefter shared on Monday. 

Kelce considered retirement after the Chiefs fell short in their pursuit of playoff football. The 36-year-old also recorded the worst statistical season of his career. Even so, he’s not quite ready to call it quits.

Travis Kelce Praises Taylor Swift For Leading By Example

The three-time Super Bowl winner was a guest on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Tuesday. He opened up, revealing his fiancée’s drive and passion inspired him to keep going. 

“It’s amazing to see her keep going to the table, keep finding new things to write about, keep finding new melodies and things like that. And on top of that, still seeing her have that love and joy in what she does – yeah of course that’s motivating. That’s motivating for anybody to see, let alone [when it’s] my fiancee,” he told the ESPN show. 

“Knowing that I’m going through something where I’m trying to figure out what the future holds for me, something like that definitely motivates me to say, “You know what? I’m not done either!” he added. “I’ve still got some ideas in the back of my mind and still got some juice left to play this game.”‘

McAfee suggested he had a good idea what Kelce would do after he heard him waxing lyrical over Eric Bieniemy’s return. 

“Once I started dating Taylor I started understanding what Easter Eggs were, and kind of just placing those things all over the planet and everybody starts to catch on,” the TE explained.

“Yeah, that was a slip-up… I didn’t even realize I said that,” he admitted. 

Biemiemy is back with the Chiefs after stints with the Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears.

Consequently, it could make for a very interesting 2026 in KC.