The 2025 campaign didn’t go as planned for the Chiefs, who will not make a fourth straight Super Bowl trip. The Chiefs’ streak of 10 consecutive playoff berths snapped during a 6-11 season in which quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL. A healthy Mahomes will aim to rebound in 2026, but it’s unknown whether he has thrown his last pass to his favorite target, tight end Travis Kelce.
While Kelce is set to become a free agent, the career-long Chief seems more likely to retire than to sign with another team. After a season-ending loss to the Raiders on Sunday, the 36-year-old indicated he hasn’t made a decision on whether to continue his career in 2026 (via Jesse Newell of The Athletic).
“I mean, who knows? Who knows? Either it hits me quick, or I’ve got to take some time,” Kelce said. “I think last year was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away I wanted to give this one a shot. So we’ll see.”
Kelce considered retirement after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles last February, but it wasn’t a drawn-out process. Just under three weeks later, it became clear he’d play again in 2025. While it went down as a disappointing year for the team, Kelce remained among the NFL’s most productive tight ends. He led Chiefs skill players in offensive snap share (81%) while finishing fourth at his position in yards (851), sixth in catches (76) and 13th in touchdowns (five).
Kelce only totaled 12 yards in Week 18, but it was enough to reach the 13,000-yard mark for his career. The 13-year veteran became the quickest tight end to achieve that milestone, doing so in 192 games. Kelce ranks third all-time at his position in receptions (1,080) and yards (13,002), and he’s fifth in TDs (82). While it’s possible Kelce won’t add to those numbers, longtime teammate Chris Jones expects him to return in 2026
“I’m not buying it,” Jones said of a potential Kelce retirement. “He’ll be back next year.”
If Jones is right, the Chiefs will have to hammer out another agreement with Kelce in the coming months. Kelce is currently scheduled to join names such as Kyle Pitts, David Njoku and Isaiah Likely on the list of free agent tight ends, but it would be shocking to see him don a different uniform in 2026.
Please go already, watching the Kelce brothers in every other commercial is getting old.
I’m in complete agreement. And they can take their mom.wirh them. I’m sure she’s a great lady but she’s had her 15 minutes of fame. Over and over again. And Jason Kelce as an analyst isn’t great. if I gotta watch two of them on a stinking pre game show together….I’m turning off the game and going golfing or bowling or…..jeez, even spending time with the wife would be preferable. For me at least. Probably not the wife…lol.
It would only get worse with retirement. They are going to want to stay “Relevant” in some way.
@Plus3 💯
You bum, you still watch commercials. Lol
Ads on YouTube are considered commercials. You also can’t skip commercials during live sporting events.
Fair to say the NFL Sunday Ticket is just terrible. All that money for a handful of Sunday games and ads.
Both he and Taylor Swift are getting up in years if they are going to start a family with their own biological kids. My guess is they will be married this year and will want to try and start a family within a year. Once she is past the initial stages, he will most likely want to be a highly involved dad and be the “Stay at Home Parent” once the kid is born. My guess is retirement so he can focus on the next phase of his life. Money is meaningless at this point, it’s hard to imagine there are any specific huge career goals he could attain next year, and the the Chiefs are unlikely to be able to put forth a team next year, even with him, that will be one of the top teams likely to repeat (Yes…They have a good chance of making the Playoffs and then anything can happen….but far from among the favorites.) Hence, he will just retire as one with his Pass to Canton already stamped and move on to the next phase of his life and add the title “Dad Travis” to his “Uncle Travis” title.
I think you’ve given that too much thought Bob.
To be honest … I think he will come back. Yes, he is planning his wedding but I think he will come back for Reid and Mahomes. Losing the way they did to end the year will not sit well with him. If he does retire, I feel the team could go after Likely at TE, who could have a great chemistry with Mahomes, if the team isnt sold on Gray taking over for Kelce?
They get a 3rd place schedule and if Mahomes really wants to be ready by the start of next season he may try 1 more year. The team didn’t look good overall though, no running game, probably draft oline early. Chris Jones will probably be cap casualty as he acted like 1 all year.
Kinda feel for him. It can’t be easy to go from elite to average. I can only imagine that the longer he prolongs retirement the harder it’ll get to walk away
It’s sort of wild but offensive stats wise, Kelce still came in as a top10 TE compared to his compatriots.
It’s funny that people are saying he’s washed when his “washed” is better than most other starting TE’s in the league.
I never hinted “washed”. I said average; which at the NFL level, isn’t washed.
My point is to drop from what he’s been must be hard for him accept that its time to give the decision more than an afterthought.
Oh, I wasn’t saying you said it. Was just agreeing with you while reading some other comments that I often see about how Kelce needs to go.
Are you ignorant? He’s still above average keep crying about it.
He should follow in his brother’s footsteps & retire at age 36 after a disappointing end to his season. There’s nothing left to prove on the field & he’s got too much talent to keep playing football as his main job. A weekly spot on McAfee would be a good start.
He’s got to talk with Mama Tara first……
I meant TaTa….not Tara….
He’s done he’s ready to become Mr. Swift
Reminds me of the time I told my dad I needed the car Friday night and he said “my a$$.” I wonder if Trav has considered the Chiefs may not want him back. High probability he is disruptive and draining person in “the building.” I was hoping he would have left after last year’s Super Bowl.
As long as his future wife is coming to games, the Chiefs will gladly welcome the merch sales she brings. While he has “lost a step”, he is still a top-quartile TE in the league.
Kelce has the right to make his decision no later than Sep.1 that is if he takes advice from Rodgers.
Again, is it totally “his” decision to make?