Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is deciding if he will play football next season as his eleven-time Pro Bowl career nears its end.
Kelce has kept his cards close to the vest about his decision, and with so much unknown, the team and football world are left speculating about what is next for the legendary tight end.
He has battled injuries throughout his career, missing little time but still picking up a good amount of wear as he took on a heavy blocking and pass-catching workload for years.
2025 ended on a sour note for the Chiefs, failing to make the playoffs and losing quarterback Patrick Mahomes, which could serve as motivation for another campaign alongside Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, ending a football dynasty with his head held high.
Another Chiefs legend, Tony Gonzalez, offered his own assessment of whether Kelce should return and whether he can compete at an elite level once again.
“Yeah, of course,” Gonzalez told Jason Anderson of Sports Radio 810 WHB in Kansas City. “I think he’s got another year in him.
“We had our Christmas game out there in Kansas City; I had a chance to sit down with (Kelce) one-on-one for the camera, for the show, and I really came away from that going, ‘I don’t think he really knows, he really doesn’t know what he wants to do. He’s going to have to figure that out.
“My advice to him, whether he was sitting here or right now, is you come back because you need to, in his situation, not because you want to,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t think that is a good enough reason.”
When will Travis Kelce make his decision?
According to a new report, Kelce is set to meet with the Chiefs to make his decision about his playing future, allowing him and the organization to either move on together or gear up for another run.
The tight end should likely decide in the next few weeks, allowing the team to account for his future salary, whether it is a significant amount or none. Also, it will likely change the urgency to get an immediate replacement or draft a younger player to develop under him for a year.