It didn't take Travis Kelce long to decide a year ago that he wasn't ready for retirement, as the legendary tight end confirmed in late February that he would play in 2025.
In 2026, the waiting game has been longer. Kelce still hasn't confirmed his plans for the upcoming season on the eve of free agency, and according to one report, his options might not be limited to retirement or a return to the Chiefs.
With Kelce set to become a free agent for the first time in his career, is there a chance he leaves Kansas City?
Here's what you need to know about Kelce's future as free agency looms.
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Travis Kelce ‘expected to return’ for 14th season
While Kelce hasn't officially announced his intentions for 2026, retirement could be put on hold once again.
Kelce is "expected to return to play for a 14th season," The Athletic reports. Chiefs GM Brett Veach previously said at the NFL Combine that Kansas City was preparing for scenarios with and without Kelce but did not indicate which way Kelce was leaning.
While the Chiefs were trying to reload last spring for what they hoped would be another run to the Super Bowl, this offseason has been different for Kansas City. The team released OT Jawaan Taylor as a cap casualty and traded CB Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams instead of giving him a lucrative extension.
The Chiefs also restructured QB Patrick Mahomes' contract to open cap space, so they are thinking more carefully than ever about how to spend their money.
Here's a closer look at Kelce's future.
Is Travis Kelce a free agent?
Unlike last offseason, Kelce's stay-or-go decision comes with the caveat that he is a free agent for the first time. Kelce is set to become a free agent when the new league year begins on Wednesday, but he will be able to speak to teams as early as Monday.
According to The Athletic, Kelce will speak to teams -- plural.
MORE:Ranking the top 100 free agents, best available players by position
Will Travis Kelce play for the Chiefs?
Kelce's decision was widely expected to come down to retirement or a return to the Chiefs. That might not be the case.
Kelce's agents "are expected to talk to multiple teams," The Athletic reports, opening up the possibility of the 36-year-old tight end finishing his career somewhere other than Kansas City. It's unclear which teams might pursue Kelce, but he is already jumping into uncharted waters by hitting the open market for the first time.
Could the secrecy around Kelce's future mean he is planning a Chiefs exit? The answer might not be known the moment free agency starts, but his silence is beginning to become a storyline in itself.
Did Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce break up?
Kelce and fiance Taylor Swift remain in a relationship, by all indications, and are planning to wed in June. The wedding is expected to be on June 13, Page Six reported in December, but the two have not confirmed the date.
Since her relationship with Kelce began, Swift has been all-in on the Chiefs, frequently appearing in an often cold Arrowhead Stadium in Chiefs gear to cheer on the team. If Kelce heads elsewhere in 2026, another team would get Swift and all of the attention that comes along with her.