Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce continues to mull a return to the NFL for a 14th season. It’s unfamiliar territory for Kelce and the team, requiring a “different approach” from Brett Veach and the front office.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid confirmed on Friday that the team has been in communication with Kelce’s agents. With the new league year starting in roughly two weeks, the clock is ticking for Kelce and Kansas City. The highest levels of Chiefs leadership have expressed confidence in No. 87 should he choose to return for another season. Ultimately, it comes down to whether Kelce wants to return to play another season and whether they can reach an agreement on contract terms.
It’s a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure story for Veach and his staff as they navigate and discuss offseason possibilities. Behind Door No. 1, they bring back Kelce. Behind Door No. 2, Kelce retires. Right now, they’re cooking up scenarios for each possibility.
Chiefs have plans for the return or retirement of star TE Travis Kelce
Speaking to media members at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Chiefs GM Brett Veach remained hopeful that Travis Kelce would return for a 14th season. However, he’s not holding any illusions about the situation. For the first time, it seems like there’s a very real possibility that Kelce might retire from the NFL. Because of that, they’ve taken an unfamiliar approach and crafted plans for both return and retirement.
“I think we’ve kind of taken a different approach with Travis (Kelce), in the sense that I think we’ve kind of prepared for either scenario,” Veach said. “And Coach (Andy Reid) had mentioned on Friday he’s had great dialogue with Travis. On our end, myself, Chris Shea, Travis’s crew, we’ve had some good dialogue there, and I’m sure we’re going to see him here, just like we will all the other players’ agents, and we’ll continue that dialogue. But Travis is the best. He’s an icon, and hopefully he comes back, and we’ll just kind of let that process play out.”
While dialogue and communication remain positive, Kelce doesn’t seem any closer to a decision on his future, at least not in a public-facing way. The other part is that there’s a lot of mutual trust and respect, which makes these conversations easier to have. While they want to give Kelce his space, they can’t get too casual with it.
“It’s a combination of all of those,” Veach said. “It’s not your typical – hey, 27-year-old first time in free agency. Travis (Kelce) has done everything, he’s accomplished everything – he’s about to get married, he’s got a lot going on. So, I don’t think there’s an element of us not trying to – you need some sort of deadline (or) timeline, but at the same time, it’s Travis Kelce. So, we’re just going to continue to have positive dialogue and see where this thing ends. I think we’re trying to position ourselves that either way, we have a plan moving forward.”
Kelce’s decision — no matter what he decides — will have a ripple effect on the Chiefs’ offseason. It feels like a game of hurry up and wait, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s coming sooner than later.
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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.