Travis Kelce
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Travis Kelce enjoyed a night out without his fiancée, Taylor Swift.
Future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce isn’t hanging up his cleats just yet.
According to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Kelce is expected to return to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 14th season. Over this past weekend, speculation began to ramp up that Kelce might be interested in playing for a different team, but those rumors can officially be put to bed.
Travis Kelce Chose to Return to Kansas City Chiefs Over Getting Top Dollar on Free Agent Market
Rapoport detailed Kelce’s decision to return to the Chiefs while appearing on NFL Network.
“It has been a roller coaster for Travis Kelce,” Rapoport said. “He has only played for the Kansas City Chiefs. A lot of people assumed no doubt Travis Kelce would just come back with the Chiefs, sign whatever deal was available, and move forward. He was expected to get significant interest (in free agency), likely a deal that would put him on the top of the tight end market, based on the way he played last year. A Pro Bowler, certainly playing at the top of his game, that would make sense.
“That’s not really what Travis Kelce is about,” Rapoport continued. “He is going to turn down more money to stay in Kansas City, to be loyal, to [stay] with (Chiefs quarterback) Patrick Mahomes, and continue to have another shot at the Super Bowl. This is something the Chiefs have been adamant about doing. They have wanted this to happen, [it was] just a matter of if he would get to free agency. In the end, he is expected to stay in Kansas City.”
Mahomes took to Instagram following the news to confirm that his friend Kelce will be staying with him for at least one more season.
Nate Taylor
Here’s Patrick Mahomes reaction to Travis Kelce’s return.
What to Expect From Travis Kelce in Year 14
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs.
GettyKansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce
After a down year in 2024, Kelce increased his receiving yards and touchdown totals in 2025. He finished fourth among all tight ends in receiving yards with 851 and sixth in receptions with 76. Kelce may not be considered the very best tight end in the NFL anymore, but is still productive and better than most.
His connection with Mahomes is among the best quarterback-pass catcher duos in NFL history. Kelce is not only a master route runner, but great at improvisation. He should continue to be Mahomes go-to target on third downs, as well as a matchup nightmare in the redzone. Perhaps more importantly than that, Kelce has started at least 15 games in every season except his rookie year.
Kelce will lead a tight end corps that also features Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Tre Watson, and Jake Briningstool. Gray has been the subject of being a potential cut candidate, while Wiley and Briningstool are raw players with tremendous athletic upside. Kelce will likely carry the load despite being the old veteran, but it’s possible that Wiley or Briningstool take a leap forward. Contract details regarding Kelce’s return aren’t yet known, but it could include a second-year option for 2027.