The Kansas City Chiefs finished with an underwhelming 6-11 record in 2025, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Travis Kelce, 36, posted ordinary numbers, catching 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns across 17 games.
And the season went from bad to worse when Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers, officially eliminating Kansas City from playoff contention.
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Afterwards, Kelce said he would decide on retirement by early 2026. He wants to give the franchise adequate time to plan accordingly before free agency begins in March. But for now, he has shut down those retirement talks. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that he is in touch with the Chiefs about a potential return.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) warms up prior to a game. Credit: Amy Kontras-Imagn Images
His return seems obvious, as the tight end also praised the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on “New Heights,” saying, “I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man. He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time.”
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But now a new rumor mill has surfaced, suggesting Taylor Swift‘s fiancee might not be staying in Kansas City. Radio personality Craig Carton dropped the possibility on “The Craig Carton Show” that Kelce could land with the New York Giants.
“Rumor is that Travis Kelce wants to come back for another year… Kelce wants to play for the NY Giants! He and his wife can live in NYC! It’s just a rumor — do not sleep on the Giants signing Kelce this offseason,” Carton said.
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The speculation comes at an interesting time. The Giants have hired John Harbaugh as their new head coach and have about $7 million in cap space. They used five kickers in 2025 and still have several roster needs to address this offseason.
Adding a future Hall of Famer like Kelce would provide instant credibility to Harbaugh’s rebuild, especially as the Ohio native ranks second among tight ends in the Pro Football Reference Hall of Fame Monitor with a score of 140.62.
He also ranks third all-time among tight ends in receiving yards (13,002) and receptions (1,080), meaning his price tag won’t come cheap.
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Related: Travis Kelce Retirement Prediction Emerges as Chiefs Fans Wait
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.