Travis Kelce is definitely coming back to the Kansas City Chiefs next season, according to ESPN’s Pat McAfee.

While strongly hinting that the three-time Super Bowl winner was his source for this information, McAfee claimed he was told via text message: ‘My dog!!! I’m coming back for sure. 

‘Gonna try and get to the best shape I’ve been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop,’ McAfee’s mysterious source continued, curiously writing in the first person. ‘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!!!!’

The 35-year-old was noncommittal about his playing future after the loss, saying on his subsequent New Heights podcast he would ‘take some time to figure it out.’

But if he is still on Kansas City’s roster by March 15, he will receive a $12.5million roster bonus, according to Spotrac. That figure would come in addition to the $4.5million in base salary he is set to receive in 2025.

Taylor Swift, left, and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce walk off the field after the trophy ceremony following the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC title game

McAfee, who does know Kelce, claimed a source told him the Chiefs star is returning

If Kelce retired – or was cut by the team – it would save the Chiefs $17million in cap space .

And if Kelce does choose to hang his cleats up, he is expected to inform the Chiefs of that decision before the bonus kicks in.

The Athletic previously reported that the Chiefs want to know whether Kelce is playing or retiring around March 14 – the day before the sum would be awarded to the player.

That date is also about five weeks before the NFL Draft – where the Chiefs could look for a tight end to groom behind him. 

Kelce was fifth among tight ends in 2024 with 823 receiving yards, though that total was his lowest since his sophomore season in 2014.

The tight end also hauled in just three touchdowns this season and was quiet in Super Bowl LIX, catching four passes for 39 yards in his team’s 40-22 loss.

On Tuesday, at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Veach explained Kelce had been sick in the lead up to the game in New Orleans. 

‘We’re never going to make excuses and talk about it but he was battling with a pretty big illness before the Super Bowl,’ he told NFL Network.

Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach revealed the tight end’s struggles before the game

Veach added: ‘The way the Eagles played it wouldn’t have made a difference… we just picked a bad day to have a bad day but like anything in life, you learn more from the losses than the wins.’

Kelce’s future has been in huge doubt following the Super Bowl, with the 35-year-old admitting him that the grind of playing in the NFL ‘can be grueling’.

‘It can weigh on you. It can make you better and it can drive you crazy at the same time… it was kind of driving me crazy this year,’ Kelce admitted.

But Veach is confident that the tight end will return for at least one more season.

‘We anticipate Travis being back,’ he said. ‘I think Travis is excited to come back… we’re excited to have Travis back and that’s how we’re operating this offseason.’

The GM heaped praise on the tight end’s longevity during a remarkable career which has seen him win three Super Bowls.

Travis Kelce was suffering from a ‘pretty big illness’ ahead of the Super Bowl, it has emerged 

Kelce struggled to make an impact as the Chiefs were heavily beaten at the Superdome

‘He’s accomplished everything there is in this game and he has that unique ability, not just to make those around him better but find that extra something when you get late into the season and into the offseason,’ Veach continued.

‘He finds a way to stay in shape and produce at a level that only he can… that is such an intangible to have in the locker room with the guys and obviously the relationship he has with Pat (Mahomes) is unique too. 

‘So he makes us better when he’s in our locker room and on the field and we’re excited to get him back.’

Earlier on Tuesday, Veach dropped the biggest hint yet that the tight end would see out the final year of his contract.

‘I still think he has that fire and desire to play,’ Veach said. ‘We left it as he’d be back, and we’re excited to get him back. And get him going.’

Initial reports claimed Kelce had until March 14 to decide whether he would come back for another year, or call it quits; last week, his brother Jason’s suggested that, ‘in his heart,’ Travis has already made his choice. 

Kelce’s return isn’t a complete surprise. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported as much earlier this week. Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show , Russini said that, from conversations she’s had, there’s ‘definitely a sense’ that Kelce will continue playing.