Patrick Mahomes remains confident that his Kansas City Chiefs teammate, Travis Kelce, still has plenty left to offer the NFL, despite growing speculation about the star tight end’s future.
The Chiefs fell short of making history with a potential three-peat, suffering a crushing 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans. Mahomes had a particularly difficult night, struggling against a dominant Eagles defense in his quest for a third Super Bowl ring in just five appearances. The star quarterback endured six sacks, lost a fumble, and threw two costly interceptions one of which was returned for a touchdown by Cooper DeJean in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Kelce appeared emotional at the final whistle, fueling speculation that this may have been the last game of his illustrious career. While the 35-year-old has consistently downplayed retirement rumors, reports leading up to the Super Bowl suggested he would seriously evaluate his future after the game.
When asked about Kelce’s potential retirement, Mahomes urged him to take his time in making a decision but expressed his belief that the veteran tight end still has more to contribute to the game.
“He’s given so much to this team and the NFL,” Mahomes said post-game. “He’s a joy to work with and a joy for fans to watch. You can see he still has a lot of football left in him—he always delivers in the biggest moments. But it’s about whether he wants to go through the grind again. Playing 20 games to reach a Super Bowl is tough. He’s already done enough to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
Mahomes added that Kelce would have full support from the team no matter what he decides. “I know he still loves the game, and he’ll have time with his family to make the right choice. But he knows we’ll welcome him back with open arms.”
Reflecting on his own struggles during the game, Mahomes took responsibility for the team’s defeat. “We didn’t start the way we wanted. The turnovers were costly, and I take full blame,” he admitted. “Those mistakes changed the momentum one of them led to a touchdown, and another set up an immediate score. That’s 14 points I gave away. It’s tough to come back from that in a Super Bowl. I have to learn from it and be better next time.”
On the other side, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts outshined Mahomes with an MVP-worthy performance, securing his first Super Bowl victory.
“I’ve learned from every experience, both good and bad, and used it as motivation,” Hurts told Fox post-game. “None of this would be possible without my teammates. Defense wins championships, and tonight, they made the difference.”
As Hurts soaked in the moment with his family, Mahomes and the Chiefs were left to process a painful loss one that could mark the end of an era if Kelce decides to walk away from the game.
