Travis Kelce won't be back with the Kansas City Chiefs? NFL star Rob Gronkowski offers blunt take on what the tight end's next move could be

As the Kansas City Chiefs get ready for their season finale, the focus around the team has shifted away from football and toward one big question. What is next for Travis Kelce? At 36, with his contract nearing its end, retirement talk has grown louder, and fans are waiting for clarity. Kelce has already said there will be no rushed decision. He has made it clear that he plans to talk things through with his family, close friends, and the Chiefs before deciding anything. Still, the speculation has not slowed down. That only intensified after comments from someone who knows this crossroads well. Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski shared his thoughts, and it quickly caught attention across the league.

Rob Gronkowski shares honest thoughts on Travis Kelce’s future

Speaking on FOX NFL Sunday, Gronkowski suggested that if Kelce chooses to keep playing, it might not automatically mean another year in Kansas City. “I think he’s going to test the market out there, and he has to vie for a championship and the Super Bowl if he comes back,” Gronk said. “I don’t really see that happening with the Kansas City Chiefs.”

Kelce is finishing the final year of his contract, and retiring now would mean ending his career after what many see as his toughest season. Gronk also hinted that the Chiefs may not be set up for a Super Bowl run in 2026, which could matter to a player who has spent his career chasing championships. Part of that uncertainty comes from the situation around Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has undergone surgery for LCL and ACL injuries and is expected to return before the 2026 season. Even so, there are questions about how quickly the team can get back to the top.

From a Chiefs point of view, though, Kelce leaving feels hard to imagine. He has played his entire career in Kansas City. At his age, learning a new offense would not be easy. His close friendship with Mahomes also mirrors the bond Gronk once had with Tom Brady. Together, Kelce and Mahomes have won three Super Bowls, and many hoped Kelce would finish his career on a winning note.

Gronk later spoke again on Good Morning America, offering advice based on his own experience. “The only advice that I would give him, because I’ve been in this situation before, is listen to your gut feeling. If you truly love the game of football and you feel like you belong out there on the football field, well then, go back,” Gronk said. “Look at your options, see what’s presented to you on the table, and weigh it all out, and take your time.”

There is also life beyond football. Kelce is planning a future with his fiancée, Taylor Swift, with marriage expected in the coming offseason. For now, nothing is final.

Also read: Travis Kelce’s next move is either retirement or another season with the Kansas City Chiefs, reveals NFL insider Ian Rapoport

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