NEW ORLEANS — Even Taylor Swift couldn’t help the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs were 19-3 with Swift in attendance heading into Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans on Sunday, including 9-0 in the playoffs. Luck appeared to be on Kansas City’s side as Swift watched the Chiefs go for a historic three-peat from Suite 445 in Caesars Superdome. But it appears the Red Era has officially ended.
The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22 in blowout fashion. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Swift’s beau, was held to four receptions for 39 yards. Although it marked the fewest yards in any of his five Super Bowl appearances, Kelce did surpass Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most catches in Super Bowl history (35) in the losing effort. That milestone didn’t offer much consolation to Kelce.
‘We haven’t played that bad all year,” Kelce told reporters at his locker. ‘Hats off to the Eagles, they got after us, all three phases. … Couldn’t get it going offensively. … Turnovers, penalties, playing behind the sticks on offense. Dropped passes, not taking advantage of the play calls and executing.”
SUPER BOWL 59: Eagles stun Chiefs in blowout, denying Kansas City historic title three-peat
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
Is Travis Kelce retiring?
Kelce, 35, previously hinted at hanging up his cleats, revealing in November 2023 that he ponders retirement ‘more than anyone could ever imagine’ due to the wear and tear of his body. He didn’t address his future Sunday, nor did he make an appearance in the postgame interview room.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 257 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, said Kelce will “spend some time with his family and make that decision on his own.”
“He’s given so much to this team and to the NFL,” Mahomes said. “He has a lot of football left in him. You can see it. He always makes plays in the biggest moments, but it’s if he wants to put in that grind. It’s a grind out there to go out there and play 20 games and get to the Super Bowl. He’s done enough to be a gold jacket guy and a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But I know he still has love for the game.”
Mahomes said Kelce will always have a place on the Chiefs: “He knows he’ll come back here with open arms. We love that guy not only for the football player, but for who he is every single day.”
Travis Kelce joins Taylor Swift after loss
Following the loss, Kelce walked down to the 400-level suites where Swift and his family cheered him on during the game. Swift was accompanied in the suite near the 30-yard-line by rapper Ice Spice, the HAIM sisters, Kelce’s family — his mother Donna, father Ed, brother Jason and sister-in-law Kylie — and her brother Austin.
Swift and Ice Spice were shown on the Jumbotron during the first half and the duo drew a loud chorus of boos. Swift, a native of West Reading, Pennsylvania, looked puzzled on the screen. “What is going on?” she asked.
That’s what Chiefs fans found themselves asking all night long. The Chiefs trailed 24-0 by halftime, and despite getting on the board in the third quarter, it was too little, too late.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.