‘I'm kicking myself’: Tearful Travis Kelce opens up on Super Bowl disaster

An emotional Travis Kelce has spoken about the “hard reality” of the Kansas City Chiefs’ thumping Super Bowl humiliation to the Philadelphia Eagles but sidestepped any talk of retirement.

Travis Kelce fought back tears as he described the “hard reality” of the Kansas City Chiefs’ crushing loss at the Super Bowl.

In a new video of his and brother Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast, the 35-year-old spoke about his team’s disappointing performance, which saw the Philadelphia Eagles thump the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 on American sport’s biggest stage.

“Just wasn’t our day,” Travis told his brother. “Couldn’t find a lick of momentum. I’m kicking myself for some of the tiny, tiny decisions I made on the field.”

Travis Kelce was emotional when talking to brother Jason about his team's disastrous Super Bowl performance. Picture: Supplied

Travis Kelce said the crushing loss was “hard to take”. Picture: Supplied

“I wasn’t the best that I could be in motivating my guys and keeping my guys calm, cool and collected and I put a lot of that on myself, you know, as the guy that’s been in the building for 12 years and seen a lot of football and seen a situation just like this, in the Super Bowl.”

While the star didn’t address persistent retirement rumours in the clip, he did apologise to fans for the disappointing loss, which would have seen the Chiefs become the first team in NFL history to win a coveted three-peat.

After a few days to process it, Travis reflected on Super Bowl LIX

Our Super Bowl recap episode premieres at 9:30am ET pic.twitter.com/dxhcSlvWS1

— New Heights (@newheightshow) February 12, 2025

“I love my teammates, I love my coaches. Chiefs Kingdom, I’m sorry for how it ended. I have a beautiful life man,” he said.

“I have loved ones, I have the most amazing family in the world that supports me in everything I do and they were all there, cheering me on and hoping for the best on Sunday,” he said of his supporters, which also includes superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift.

Jason Kelce spoke to his emotional brother, Travis, after the Kansas City Chiefs' disastrous Super Bowl performance. Picture: Supplied

“I wish I had made better decisions early on to help my guy Pat (Mahomes) out and help my team find that momentum and that confidence,” he said. “But you know, I just have to tip my hat to the Eagles.”

After a visibly upset Travis said he wishes “things had went different,” his brother and former Philadelphia Eagles star, Jason, pointed out Travis made history on Sunday.

Jason, who retired from the NFL last year, said that Travis had set a new record for the most catches in Super Bowl history.

Kelce finished the regular season with career lows in yardage (863) and touchdowns (three), and the athlete had zero receptions in the first half.

Travis Kelce celebrates with girlfriend Taylor Swift after the Kansas City Chiefs made it through to the Super Bowl but the final game was a disaster. Picture: Getty Images

However, his four receptions for 39 yards against the Eagles mean he now boasts a total of 35 across his Super Bowl appearances — placing him above San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice who racked up 33.

“You broke the most catches in Super Bowl history,” Jason said. “I know you don’t probably care that much about it right now because of the way the game went.”

Travis Kelce showed off his fashionable flair before the Super Bowl. Picture: Getty Images

“You have so many records at this point … but at the end of the day it’s just another thing that cements you as one of the best players ever to play in the NFL.”

Still, it appears as though it’s too soon for Travis to celebrate a personal milestone, as he added, “That’s the last thing that I care about right now.”

The Chiefs star briefly spoke to reporters in the locker room about his team’s defeat.

A gutted Travis Kelce after the loss. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

“Hats off to the Eagles, man,” he said. “They got after us, all three phases.”

“[We] couldn’t get it going offensively,” went on. “I mean they just got after us on all three phases and then on top of that, you know, turnovers, penalties, playing behind the sticks on offence.”

“We just couldn’t find that spark. We couldn’t find that momentum,” he said. “We haven’t played that bad all year. You don’t lose like that without everything going bad.”

Travis added that he and his team never threw in the towel and fought tooth and nail till the very end.

Originally published as ‘I'm kicking myself’: Tearful Travis Kelce opens up on Super Bowl disaster