On Wednesday, March 11, NFL free agency officially kicks in, and one of the most high-profile players in the mix is Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to a report from Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Kelce is raring to come back for another season. But, there’s a catch.
“Based on conversations with several teams, TE Travis Kelce appears motivated to return to play a 14th season,” she stated in a post on X on Sunday, March 8. “The Chiefs remain very much in the mix to re-sign the three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro.”
That’s good news for those who want to see Kelce back on the field, but the catch is that “multiple” teams are interested in signing Kelce, so he may not end up with the Chiefs for the 2026-27 season.
In a Sunday, March 8 feature for The Athletic, Russini and her colleague Jesse Newell say that while Kelce is expected to play his 14th NFL season, there’s “no guarantee it’s with Chiefs.”
In the piece, they flat-out state that “it isn’t a sure thing that the team he plays for would be the Kansas City Chiefs. Kelce’s representatives are expected to talk to multiple teams.”
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said at the 2026 NFL combine that the franchise was staying patient this offseason with Kelce and his decision to return or not.
“We’ve kind of prepared for either scenario,” he said on Feb. 24, regarding if the tight end out retire or come back. Veach added that Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Kelce have had “great dialogue,” and that he and assistant general manager Chris Shea have had “good dialogue” with Kelce’s staff.
“I’m sure we’re going to see him here,” he added, “along with all the other players’ agents. And we’ll continue that dialogue.”
Veach also said, “Travis is the best. He’s an icon. Hopefully, he comes back, and we’ll just kind of let that process play out.”
Greg Augman of Fox Sports ranks Kelce No. 41 on his tally of available NFL free agents going into the 2026-27 season.
“He’s made 11 straight Pro Bowls, even as his production has dropped off - his targets and catches hit 10-year lows in 2025, and he’s totaled 13 touchdowns over the last three seasons,” Augman notes. “Again, it’s OK - he’s 36 years old, but you really haven’t known Patrick Mahomes without having Kelce to throw to as a core part of their dynastic run over the last decade.”
If Kelce does sign with another franchise, it will be gutting for the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s spent his past 13 seasons with the team, and it would be difficult to imagine him in another team’s uniform.
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