Travis Kelce stands among the NFL’s all-time greats at his position. Entering his 13th season, all with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kelce holds multiple league and franchise records after being drafted in the third round in 2013.
His career is highlighted by three Super Bowl victories, cementing his place as a key part of Kansas City’s recent dynasty. While his on-field achievements are well-known, Kelce recently opened up about a less celebrated chapter of his life during a podcast interview, revealing a regret that stuck with him far longer than any missed play.
Travis Kelce Regrets This Off-Field Choice More Than Any Play
Each offseason, Kelce keeps busy with a variety of projects outside football. Last year, he hosted Amazon Prime’s “Are You Smarter than a Celebrity?” He is also set to appear in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming horror series, “Grotesquerie,” and co-hosts the popular “New Heights Podcast” alongside his brother Jason Kelce.
During an episode of the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, Kelce, now 35, reflected on an offseason decision that became a running joke throughout the season.
“The worst thing I ever did was the dating show,” Kelce said. “Catching Kelce was the f****** worst thing I ever did. It didn’t set me up for anything. I didn’t realize what reality TV really was…. I don’t even think anybody watched it, it was just 50 women from 50 states.”
Kelce was quick to rule out a second season of the show. He explained that he made up his mind against it halfway through filming.
The Chiefs tight end joked that the contestants felt more like 50 women from Los Angeles, each with a relative in every state, rather than a true cross-section of America. Kelce told his agents repeatedly that he did not want to do the show again.
Kelce has moved on from the experience and is focused on returning to form after an uncharacteristically quiet season. During the 2024-25 campaign, he finished with 97 receptions for 823 yards – his lowest regular-season totals since 2014.
His postseason performance mirrored this dip, as he managed just four catches for 39 yards in Super Bowl 59, with zero receptions in the first half.
Despite these struggles, Kelce’s best playoff outing came against the Houston Texans, where he racked up 117 yards and a touchdown, including a 49-yard catch-and-run in the Divisional Round.
Even with last season’s setbacks, Kelce’s résumé remains among the most impressive in NFL history. He has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in seven different seasons, a rare feat for tight ends, and continues to be regarded as one of the best ever at his position.
As he looks ahead, Kelce is aiming to cap off his legendary career with one more Super Bowl ring.
