Travis Kelce was grinning from ear to ear on Sunday as he made a pregame appearance at Super Bowl 2026 in Santa Clara.<\/p>\n
The star Chiefs tight end \u2014 just one year removed from Super Bowl heartbreak at the hands of the Eagles \u2014 took the field at Levi\u2019s Stadium as one of the 32 nominees for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the league\u2019s most prestigious prize that was awarded to Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner<\/a> at the NFL Honors on Thursday.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n A smiling Travis Kelce at Super Bowl 2026 on Feb. 8, 2026. Kevin Mazur\/Getty Images for Roc Nation<\/p>\n Jarrett Payton and Brittney Payton (second right and far right) with Travis Kelce. Kevin Mazur\/Getty Images for Roc Nation<\/p>\n The three-time Super Bowl champion was named the club winner for Kansas City in December.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a different kind of offseason for Kelce, whose Chiefs were bounced from postseason contention<\/a> in mid-December, when quarterback Patrick Mahomes also went down with a torn ACL.<\/p>\n Kansas City finished the year at 6-11.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Travis Kelce walks off the field after the Chiefs\u2019 Super Bowl 2025 loss. TNS<\/p>\n Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate the Chiefs\u2019 Super Bowl 2024 victory. Getty Images<\/p>\n Philly routed the defending champions last February, 44-20, in front of a star-studded New Orleans crowd that included Kelce\u2019s now-fianc\u00e9e, Taylor Swift.<\/p>\n With the couple expected to tie the knot this summer<\/a>, it remains to be seen if Kelce will be preparing for training camp around that time.<\/p>\n Although Kelce has not yet made an official announcement<\/a> about his football future, The Athletic reported<\/a> there is mounting belief he will likely return for another year.<\/p>\n