Taylor Swift influenced Travis Kelce's 'poetic' retirement decision after Super Bowl loss, claim sources

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: After the Kansas City Chiefs' 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, star tight end Travis Kelce faced speculation regarding his potential retirement.

But that didn't last long as the 35-year-old just confirmed that he will be returning for his 13th NFL season, officially shutting down those pesky retirement rumors, and now sources have revealed that his pop sensation girlfriend Taylor Swift reportedly played a key role in his decision.

Taylor Swift's signature number strikes again as Travis Kelce confirms NFL return

Travis Kelce has always been hungry for another championship, and the Chiefs star made his intentions crystal clear during 'The Pat McAfee Show' on Thursday, February 27. 

"I’m coming back, for sure," he texted McAfee, making it known he’s ready to bounce back stronger. But while his love for the game is undeniable, insiders suggest love—of another kind—may have influenced his decision.

Taylor may have played a sentimental role in Travis' choice, revealed sources to the Daily Mail.

"They’ve talked about how cool it would be for him to play his 13th year—Taylor’s favorite number—and if it were his last, how poetic that would be," an insider shared.

For anyone unfamiliar with the 'Love Story' singer's deep-rooted obsession with 13, this is no ordinary number.

Taylor was born on December 13, and she’s been vocal for years about how the number mysteriously pops up in her life.

"I was born on the 13th, I turned 13 on Friday the 13th, my first album went gold in 13 weeks. Also, my first song that ever went number 1, it had a 13-second intro, I didn’t even do that on purpose!" she previously explained in an interview, as per Today.

"And every time I’ve ever won an award at an award show, I’ve either been seated in the 13th row, or row M, which is the 13th letter. And when I won the Horizon Award at the CMA awards, the producer came up to me when I was sound-checking and he said, ‘Alright, we’re gonna go in 13 seconds!’ There are so many numbers," Swift added at the time. 

It’s no surprise that if Travis were looking for a sign, Taylor would help him find one in her lucky number.

Travis Kelce's retirement decision wasn't solely due to Taylor Swift romance

Of course, Travis Kelce's return isn't purely a romantic gesture. His brother, Jason Kelce, who retired from football in 2024, hinted on the recent episode of 'The Steam Room' podcast that the tight end had likely already made up his mind about it. 

"I think Travis, I think he probably, in his heart, already knows what he wants to do," Jason said. "That’s the reality of it."

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach also doubled down on his confidence in Travis' return, saying that he was still "fired up" and had plenty left in the tank.

Moreover, not to forget the $11.5 million roster bonus coming his way this month, another solid reason to keep playing.

But there’s no denying that the power couple's romance has been a game-changer.

Since Taylor entered the picture, NFL ratings have surged, particularly among women aged 18-49. MarketWatch estimates that the pop star has generated over $1 billion in publicity and revenue for the league.

Moreover, Travis' jersey sales have skyrocketed by 400%, and his Instagram following has exploded.