Football fans are skeptical after a claim that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was reported to have a mysterious illness in the run-up to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans earlier this month.

Kelce only managed four receptions in the heavy defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles while also dropping two passes in the loss.

Weeks later, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told NFL Network that Kelce had been ‘battling with a pretty big illness’ the week of the big game.

But fans are pointing out that Kelce appeared okay after he was spotted out in New Orleans grabbing dinner with pop superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift.

They were seen holding hands at Lilette, a trendy French restaurant on Magazine Street. Word had clearly got out that they were there, with plenty of fans waiting by the steps to film them leaving before sharing viral footage online.

It’s because of this dinner date that some NFL fans feel that the claims of an illness are slightly sketchy reason to explain his poor Super Bowl performance – especially considering Kelce hadn’t exactly had the greatest season of his career.

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Chiefs GM Brett Veach says Travis Kelce was dealing with an illness before Super Bowl LIX

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Fans questioned this narrative as Swift and Kelce were seen out at a French restaurant with Patrick and Brittany Mahomes on a double date night the Friday before the Big Game

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Kelce dropped two passes and only caught four for 39 yards in the loss to the Eagles

‘surprising because he wasn’t catching s*** that day,’ wrote one user on X, formerly Twitter.

Another said, ‘If he had a significant illness, why were he and TS [Swift] out with Mr and Mrs Mahomes for a three hour dinner in New Orleans on Saturday [sic] night before the Super Bowl?’

One person believed that the ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ singer could be to blame, saying, ‘It was the Swift virus.’

Others pointed to the fact that Kelce hadn’t been his usually productive self throughout the 2024 campaign.

‘Orrr, and hear me out here, he’s old and sucks now.. was he battling a sickness all year? Cause he wasn’t exactly lighting it up this year,’ said one user.

Another posted, ‘Did he have a serious illness all season? Because he sucked all year.’

More users pointed out that the Philadelphia Eagles were dealing with a sickness that was widely reported on in the lead-up to the Big Game.

‘We don’t care. There were reports of illness going through the eagles locker room a week prior to the Super Bowl,’ wrote one NFL fan.

Another pointed out that Eagles pass rusher Nolan Smith ‘tore his tricep and still played.’

Fans cast doubt on the claims that Kelce had actually caught an illness before the big game

Kelce’s 2024 was one of the more underwhelming seasons of his entire tenure in the National Football League.

His 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns are the least of his career and with 8.5 yards per catch, 2024 was the first time in his career that he averaged under double-digit yards a catch.

At age 35, Kelce isn’t likely to have a career resurgence any time soon, but he’s set to be the fifth most-expensive player on the Chiefs next year by salary cap hit.

Next season is the last year on Kelce’s current contract. He would hit free agency in 2026.