Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is expected to return for his 14th NFL season, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
Kelce reportedly declined potentially larger offers from other teams in free agency in order to remain with Kansas City.
The decision follows several weeks of discussion after the Chiefs’ season ended. The team had expressed hope that the veteran tight end would return, and head coach Andy Reid said communication between the two sides remained ongoing following the Super Bowl.
Kelce, 36, is coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career, finishing with 76 receptions for 851 yards. Despite the dip in numbers, he was still selected to the Pro Bowl for the 11th time.
Kansas City’s season ended in Week 15 following a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a game in which quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury. After the loss, Kelce said he would give the Chiefs everything I got over the final stretch of the season as speculation about retirement grew.
Following the season finale, Kelce indicated he would take time to consider his future before making a decision.
Nearly two months later, the veteran tight end has decided to return for the 2026 season.
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