In Kansas City, where expectations have soared thanks to years of success, anything short of a championship feels like a missed opportunity. That was the case this past February, when the Chiefs came up short in their bid for a three-peat, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Still, the mood inside the Chiefs locker room is one of optimism and determination, led in part by veteran tight end Travis Kelce, who’s already gearing up for another run.

Kelce, now 35, is not letting the sting of that loss linger. Instead, he’s channeling his energy toward helping the team regroup, reload, and climb back to the top. While attending the American Century Championship  celebrity golf tournament, he shared his outlook on the upcoming 2025 NFL season.

“You know what, obviously just won the Super Bowl. We made it all the way to the dance and I just gotta finish,” Kelce told NBC Sport. “I think we got an unbelievable room coming back, obviously amazing coaches. I am just excited to get back after it and rebuild this team as we do every year.”

New weapons in Kansas City, but Kelce remains the heart of the offense

Despite recording career lows in receiving yards and touchdowns last season, Kelce reminded fans and critics alike why he’s one of the greatest tight ends of all time with his postseason performance. When the games mattered most, Kelce stepped up, once again becoming the go-to guy for Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs know exactly what they have in Kelce: a dependable, battle-tested leader who consistently delivers in big moments. General manager Brett Veach echoed that sentiment this offseason, noting how Kelce has the unique ability to elevate his play when the stakes are highest.

Still, Kansas City’s front office is working to ease some of the burden on its aging star. The team has bolstered its wide receiver corps by adding former Ravens standout Hollywood Brown, drafting speedster Xavier Worthy, and continuing to develop Rashee Rice. These additions are expected to give the Chiefs more firepower and, ideally, take some pressure off Kelce throughout the grueling regular season.

Head coach Andy Reid has hinted that Kelce’s playing time might be more carefully managed this year, not as a demotion, but as a preservation strategy. Kelce, for his part, has doubled down on offseason workouts to prove he still has plenty left in the tank. Even with a deep receiver room, Kelce’s presence is still essential, both on the field and in the locker room.