What We're Hearing Around Super Bowl Week: Kelce’s Future, Chiefs’ Collapse, and the Road Ahead
As the NFL world converges on San Francisco for Super Bowl LX, the buzz around the league isn’t just about the Patriots and Seahawks. There’s plenty of chatter surrounding some of the league’s biggest names and storylines - from Travis Kelce’s uncertain future to Kansas City’s early playoff exit, and even how the Chiefs might reshape their roster this offseason. Let’s break it down.
Travis Kelce: One More Ride?
Travis Kelce has been making the rounds in San Francisco this week - hitting events, bouncing between parties - and while the tight end seems to be enjoying the moment, there’s still no definitive word on whether he’ll be back for a 14th NFL season.
Retirement has been floated, sure, but those close to Kelce believe he’s not quite ready to hang it up. After all, he remains one of the most dynamic weapons in the league when healthy, and with the Chiefs still very much in win-now mode, the door is wide open for a return. His decision hasn’t been made yet, but the idea of one more season is gaining traction.
Why the Chiefs Aren’t Playing This Sunday
For the first time in what feels like forever, the Chiefs aren’t in the Super Bowl. And if you’re looking for one defining reason why, it’s this: they couldn’t close.
Kansas City had the lead - or at least a 50% win probability - in the fourth quarter of 12 of Patrick Mahomes’ 14 starts this season. Yet they finished 6-8 in those games. That’s not just uncharacteristic - that’s a complete reversal of the late-game magic that’s defined the Mahomes era.
Andy Reid put it simply: “It just flipped on us.”
In past years, the Chiefs were the team you couldn’t count out. Down 10?
No problem. Need a two-minute drill?
Mahomes would make it happen. But this season, the spark just wasn’t there.
Whether it was dropped passes, missed assignments, or late-game turnovers, Kansas City couldn’t finish - and it cost them a shot at another ring.
Vrabel’s KC Chapter: More Than a Footnote
Mike Vrabel is back in the Super Bowl conversation, but not as a coach - this time, as a reminder of his playing days. When the Chiefs traded for Matt Cassel back in 2009, Vrabel came along in the deal - a 33-year-old linebacker with three Super Bowl rings already in his pocket.
He wasn’t just a throw-in. Vrabel started 30 games over two seasons in Kansas City, racking up 100 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, and even playing a little red zone offense, catching two touchdown passes.
“I remember being a team that was [4-12] one year and 10-6 the next one - won the division - I was proud of that,” Vrabel said back in 2019. “The fans - I remember the fans.
The Hunt family - great people. It was a great place to finish up my career.”
It wasn’t a headline-grabbing stint, but it was a meaningful one - and a reminder of how even short stops can leave a lasting impression.
Darron Lee Facing Serious Charges
Former Chiefs linebacker Darron Lee is facing first-degree murder and evidence tampering charges in Tennessee. Authorities say first responders found a female victim at the scene and attempted life-saving measures, but the preliminary investigation indicates it was a homicide.
The case is ongoing, and additional charges could be filed pending the outcome of the investigation.
Super Bowl LX: Defense Could Rule the Day
As for the game itself, the matchup between the Patriots and Seahawks is shaping up to be a chess match - not a shootout.
Seattle might have the edge in talent, but the Patriots have been riding a wave of confidence and timely execution. Both defenses are capable of taking over, which could keep this one close.
If Seattle gets rolling offensively - with Kenneth Walker III in the backfield and Jaxon Smith-Njigba stretching the field - they’ve got the firepower to run away with it. But if it turns into a grind-it-out defensive battle, New England’s discipline and opportunism could keep them in it.
Don’t expect either quarterback to take over the game. This one feels like it’s going to be about scheme, execution, and who blinks first. On that front, Mike Macdonald and Josh McDaniels - two of the best play-callers in the game - will be worth watching closely.
From Bowling Green to the Big Stage: The Rise of ‘Zombieland’
One of the more unexpected storylines of Super Bowl week? A celebration called “Zombieland” that started three years ago at a Western Kentucky media day. What began as a playful pose by a couple of defensive backs has now gone viral - showing up in college football, the NFL, and even among celebrities.
Now, it’s part of the Patriots’ identity - a rallying cry and a symbol of their unlikely run to the Super Bowl. From Bowling Green to Levi’s Stadium, it’s a full-circle moment for the players who started it all.
Jim Schwartz Steps Away After Browns Snub
Jim Schwartz won’t be coaching in 2026. After being passed over for the Browns’ head coaching job, the veteran defensive coordinator has resigned. But because he wasn’t fired, he remains under contract and won’t be free to join another team this season.
Schwartz helped build one of the league’s most physical defenses, and while he won’t be on the sidelines this fall, his impact in Cleveland won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Chiefs’ Offseason Cap Crunch: Big Moves Ahead?
The Chiefs are staring down a $54 million salary cap overage, and the path to financial flexibility isn’t going to be easy.
Cutting players like Jawaan Taylor, Mike Danna, Drue Tranquill, and Noah Gray could free up about $40 million. Restructuring Patrick Mahomes’ deal could add another $44 million in space. That gets Kansas City into the black - roughly $28 million in cap space - but it won’t go far.
Once you factor in the rookie class (projected to cost $12.7 million) and a potential free agent running back (likely in the $5-10 million range), the Chiefs are suddenly looking at a very tight budget.
One option that could change the equation? Trading cornerback Trent McDuffie.
From a cap perspective, it’s a clean move - no dead money, and it frees up roughly $13 million. It’s a tough call, especially given McDuffie’s talent, but if the Chiefs want to be active in free agency, it might be the move that opens the door.
Bottom Line
The Chiefs may not be in the Super Bowl this year, but they’re still very much in the center of the NFL conversation - from Kelce’s future to cap gymnastics and everything in between. As for Sunday’s big game, buckle up for a defensive slugfest, a few breakout moments, and maybe even a little “Zombieland” celebration on the sport’s biggest stage.