NFL Rumors: Insider says Travis Kelce is set for his 14th NFL season, but may leave the Kansas City Chiefs amid retirement talks

The future of Travis Kelce is no longer tied only to the Kansas City Chiefs. The star tight end is expected to return for a 14th NFL season in 2026. However, league insiders say there is a real chance he could suit up for a different team.

According to reporting from Dianna Russini and Jesse Newell of The Athletic, Kelce’s representatives plan to speak with multiple teams once free agency discussions move forward. That twist makes the Travis Kelce Chiefs return far from certain.

Travis Kelce's return is likely, but the Kansas City Chiefs' future remains uncertain

Travis Kelce has spent his entire career with Kansas City since the franchise drafted him in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. For years, many around the league assumed he would either retire or finish his career with the Chiefs. That assumption changed this offseason.

The biggest reason is simple. The star-TE is not under contract for the 2026 season and will become an unrestricted free agent.




Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach addressed the situation during media availability at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on February 24. Veach said the organization prepared for both possibilities.


“We’ve kind of prepared for either scenario (retire or come back),” Veach said at the combine. “Coach Andy Reid mentioned he’d had great dialogue with Travis on our end. Myself and Chris Shea have had some good dialogue with his group. Hopefully, he comes back, and we’ll let the process play out.”


Kansas City also faces salary cap pressure this offseason. The team handed out several long-term extensions to stars in recent years, which limits its flexibility in free agency. That financial situation already forced the Chiefs to trade Trey Smith to the Los Angeles Rams for draft picks earlier this month.

Kelce, who turns 37 in October, still produced at a high level in 2025. He finished the season with 851 receiving yards, ranking fourth among NFL tight ends. Data from Pro Football Focus also showed he forced nine missed tackles, three times more than he managed in 2024.

Even so, the topic of Kelce's retirement continues to follow him. The veteran tight end has played 13 seasons and built one of the greatest tight-end careers. His peak included a record 1,416 receiving yards in 2020 and seven straight 1,000-yard seasons between 2016 and 2022 with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

For now, Kelce plans to play again. The bigger question sits elsewhere. Will the Travis Kelce Chiefs return actually happen, or will one of the league’s most iconic players close his career in a different uniform?