Just days after Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach strongly indicated that star tight end Travis Kelce, who was mulling a potential retirement from the NFL, would be returning for another season, Kelce himself, with the help of ESPN's Pat McAfee, confirmed his decision.

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While strongly hinting that the three-time Super Bowl winner was his source for this information, McAfee claimed he was told via text ... However, Chiefs GM Brett Veach has since revealed the tight end was battling an illness leading up to the game.

Kansas City tight end ranks third all-time amongst TEs in career receptions (1,004) and receiving yards (12,151).

Travis Kelce has all but made it official. According to Pat McAfee, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end texted him and said that he is not retiring and will be returning for the 2025 season. "I reached out to source(s) on the future of @tkelce.

Just a couple days earlier, Chiefs GM Brett Veach had told reporters that he felt Kelce was "fired up" about returning for the 2025 season. Kelce has one year remaining on his contract — and it might require some restructuring — but the Chiefs will undeniably be pumped to have Kelce back for another season.

ESPN star Pat McAfee ... messages to Pat McAfee read (Getty Images) Kelce’s confirmation that he will not be retiring from the NFL comes after the Chiefs general manager Brett Veach spoke ...

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce plans to play next season rather than retire. The 35-year-old Kelce had been mulling whether to return for a 13th season. But the four-time All-Pro made his feelings clear in a text to Pat McAfee that the host read during “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday.

But on Wednesday, ESPN star Pat McAfee sensationally read out a text ... However, Chiefs GM Brett Veach has since revealed the tight end was battling an illness leading up to the game.

ESPN star Pat McAfee read out a text message from the Kansas City ... Kelce’s confirmation that he will not be retiring from the NFL comes after the Chiefs general manager Brett Veach spoke during Wednesday’s episode of the NFL’s The Insiders podcast.

Gonna try to get into the best shape I've been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop," Kelce wrote, according to McAfee. "Got a real bad taste