Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs were unable to secure the 2025 Super Bowl title, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. It has now come to light that Travis was dealing with an "illness" during the game.
“We’re not going to make excuses and talk about it, but, yes, he was battling a significant illness leading up to the Super Bowl,” Brett Veach, the Chiefs' general manager, mentioned in the February 25 episode of the “NFL: The Insiders” podcast.
Veach, however, acknowledged that the tight end's condition didn't impact the outcome, noting that the Eagles' performance meant it wouldn't have made a difference.
The Eagles dominated the game with a strong start and maintained their momentum, leading to a 40-22 victory over the Chiefs.
In the audience, Travis, 35, received support from his girlfriend Taylor Swift, his brother Jason Kelce, sister-in-law Kylie Kelce, and his parents Ed Kelce and Donna Kelce, along with a close group of friends.
After the game, Travis decided to skip the official Chiefs celebration, which featured performances by DJ duo The Chainsmokers, Shaboozey, Quavo, and Machine Gun Kelly.
Alex Pall of The Chainsmokers FaceTimed Travis after their performance, who apparently spent his evening at a house party. A fan posted a video on X of the exchange, and DJ Dom Dolla briefly appeared on the screen next to Travis.
In the background of Travis' call, pots and pans could be seen hanging from a ceiling, suggesting they were gathered in a kitchen.
On February 12, Travis reflected on the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss and straightforwardly confessed that his team "couldn't gather any momentum."
“I’m beating myself up over some of the smallest decisions I made on the field,” the Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? host told his brother Jason, 37, a retired center for the Philadelphia Eagles, during their “New Heights” podcast episode. “I wasn't the best leader I could have been in motivating my teammates and keeping them calm and focused.”
Getty Jason praised his brother and highlighted the records Travis set during the game, such as achieving “the most catches in Super Bowl history.”
“It’s understandable if you’re not very concerned about this right now given how the game turned out," Jason remarked, adding, "But ultimately, it's just another milestone that confirms your status as one of the greatest NFL players ever.”
Jason isn't the only one commending Travis, as the Grotesque actor shared that he had Taylor Swift’s music on repeat while dealing with post-Super Bowl disappointment.
“To find yourself in the light, you must first search within the darkness. I often choose music that mirrors my feelings — and yes,” Travis revealed on the Wednesday, February 26, episode of the “New Heights” podcast.
“I just play Taylor’s tracks. Her songs cover every mood,” Travis enthused, prompting Jason to add, “Regardless of how you feel, there's always a Taylor song that fits.”