On the March 5 episode of New Heights, the podcast he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce, Travis opened up about his decision to continue playing.
Jason, 37, who retired from the Eagles in 2024, asked his younger brother how much the Chiefs' Super Bowl defeat influenced his choice.
"It was probably the biggest factor," Travis, 35, admitted, calling the loss an "all-time low." Jason then pressed further, asking if Travis would have retired had the team secured a historic three-peat victory.
"I mean, it would have been a pretty cool way to go out," Travis responded. "But I think I'd still have this love for the game."
Despite his growing presence in entertainment—including roles in Ryan Murphy's Grotesquerie, Happy Gilmore 2, and hosting Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?—Travis said his passion for football ultimately pulled him back.
"The biggest thing is that I f------ love playing football. I love the game," he said. "I still believe I can play at a high level—maybe even better than last year."
Reflecting on his performance during the 2024-2025 season, Travis was critical of himself. "I don't think it was my best year. I feel like I let my guys down more times than I helped them, especially considering my track record in past seasons," he admitted.
He continued, "I have a bad taste in my mouth about how I ended the season, how I played, and how accountable I was to my teammates."
As for his decision-making process, Travis said he didn't overthink it.
"It's just a feeling. I'm not someone who sits down and weighs the pros and cons," he explained. "It was a pure gut feeling... and as soon as I felt it, I pulled the trigger."
Travis first announced his return on The Pat McAfee Show via text on Feb. 27, confirming, "I'm coming back for sure." He also shared his offseason goal: "Gonna try and get in the best shape I've ever been in and get back to the mountaintop."
