Travis Kelce dishes on reasons for Chiefs return after retirement rumors

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Travis Kelce spoke publicly for the first time since announcing that he was going to return to the Kansas City Chiefs during his podcast that was released on Wednesday. 

Kelce, 35, initially said he was "kicking every can I can down the road" regarding his decision to retire in the episode shortly after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The star tight end said, ultimately, he still loves playing football as part of the reason for his return. 

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, #87, during a press conference in advance of Super Bowl LIX at New Orleans Marriott. (Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

"I think the biggest thing is that I f---ing love playing the game of football," Kelce said. "I still feel like I can play at a high level and possibly at a higher level than I did last year. I don’t think it was my best outing. I think I let my guys down in a lot more moments than I helped them," Kelce said on "New Heights."

"Especially if you look at my track record and how I’ve been in years past. I want to give it a good run. I have a bad taste in my mouth in how I ended the year and how well I was playing and how accountable I was for the people around me. And I love so many people in Kansas City, both in that facility and in the community, and it’s home for me.

"I don’t want to leave that life yet. I’ve put in a lot of hard work and put in a lot of focus into being the best that I can for KC. Last year, it didn’t end well for us and I feel like there is a responsibility in me to play out the contract I initially signed to give Kansas City and the Chiefs