Travis Kelce was grinning from ear to ear on Sunday as he made a pregame appearance at Super Bowl 2026 in Santa Clara.
The star Chiefs tight end — just one year removed from Super Bowl heartbreak at the hands of the Eagles — took the field at Levi’s Stadium as one of the 32 nominees for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the league’s most prestigious prize that was awarded to Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner at the NFL Honors on Thursday.
Kelce, 36, was photographed beside Jarrett Payton and Brittney Payton, the children of the late Walter Payton, whose legacy has been immortalized in an award that recognizes the positive impact players have made beyond the game.
The three-time Super Bowl champion was named the club winner for Kansas City in December.
It’s been a different kind of offseason for Kelce, whose Chiefs were bounced from postseason contention in mid-December, when quarterback Patrick Mahomes also went down with a torn ACL.
Kansas City finished the year at 6-11.
One season ago, Kelce and the Chiefs were contending for a historic three-peat after emerging victorious in Super Bowls 2023 and 2024 against the Eagles and 49ers, respectively.
Philly routed the defending champions last February, 44-20, in front of a star-studded New Orleans crowd that included Kelce’s now-fiancée, Taylor Swift.
With the couple expected to tie the knot this summer, it remains to be seen if Kelce will be preparing for training camp around that time.
Although Kelce has not yet made an official announcement about his football future, The Athletic reported there is mounting belief he will likely return for another year.
In the meantime, Kelce is making the most of Super Bowl weekend in San Francisco, where he hopped in The Chainsmokers’ DJ booth Saturday at the Sports Illustrated bash.
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