Travis Kelce was suffering from a ‘pretty big illness’ ahead of the Super Bowl, Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach has sensationally revealed.
Kelce struggled in New Orleans as Kansas City was badly beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles.
The tight end failed to make much impact on the game as the Chiefs’ hopes of a historic three-peat went up in smoke.
Kelce came under scrutiny for his performance and the Chiefs star even teased possible retirement following the loss.
But on Tuesday, Veach explained that the 35-year-old 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.
Travis Kelce was suffering from a ‘pretty big illness’ ahead of the Super Bowl, it has emerged
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.
‘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.
Kelce struggled to make an impact as the Chiefs were heavily beaten at the Superdome
‘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.