Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is back for another season, and one NFL insider is shedding light on that move.
The Kansas City Chiefs still aren’t sure if they’ll have Travis Kelce suiting up for them in 2026, but now have more breathing room to bring back the star tight end if he does decide to return.
Kelce has not yet announced whether he will return for the next NFL season or head off into retirement, but reports indicate that the Chiefs want him back. Kelce’s contract comes to an end with the official start of the new NFL season in March, and the Chiefs just made a significant move that may have freed up space for a new one.
Chiefs Find Cap Space for Travis Kelce’s Potential Return
As NFL.com’s Kevin Patra reported, the Chiefs converted $44 million of Patrick Mahomes’ base salary and a $10.4 million roster bonus for 2026 into a fully guaranteed roster bonus, which freed up $43.5 million in cap space.
“Mahomes, who is rehabbing from a season-ending knee injury, was set to count $78.214 million against the salary cap in 2026,” Patra wrote. “The restructure sinks that number to a much more manageable $34.65 million. The move adds a shade under $11 million to all subsequent seasons. The QB’s 2027 cap hit now stands at $85.25 million.”
The move gives the Chiefs some much-needed breathing room, including room for a new contract for Kelce if he decides to return.
The Chiefs had signed Kelce to a two-year, $34.25 million contract in 2024 that included $17 million fully guaranteed. If he comes back to the NFL this year, Kelce could likely sign a one-year deal for less money.
Chiefs Waiting on Travis Kelce’s Decision
While neither Kelce nor the Chiefs have given a definitive timeline for the retirement decision, NFL.com insider Ian Rapoport reported that the team planned to touch base with him sometime after the Super Bowl.
“The perennial Pro Bowler, who had a resurgent 2025 to reassert his place among the game’s best despite being 36 years old, has not made a firm decision on his future,” Rapoport wrote. “However, he has been in touch with his team about a potential return and Kansas City wants him back, sources say. The plan is to reconvene after the Super Bowl to finalize a plan that works for both parties.”
Some believe that Kelce could find himself on another team in 2026. Former NFL general manager turned ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum advised the Chiefs to move on from Kelce after a dip in production and athleticism.
“I would move on from Travis Kelce,” Tannenbaum said. “When you’re in the front office, you have to project what a player is going to do, not what they’ve done. Travis Kelce is a first ballot Hall of Famer, but when you watch him and make an honest and sober evaluation of his 2025 performance, clearly his best days are behind him.”
But the Chiefs may need Kelce’s contributions for 2026, especially given their uncertainty on offense. Mahomes is still going through rehab for a torn ACL and LCL that ended his 2025 season in December, and it’s not clear if he will be back in time to start the season.