NEED TO KNOW
Travis Kelce is expected to return to the NFL for a 14th season, according to a report from The Athletic
The star tight end isn’t confirmed to return to the Kansas City Chiefs, however
He’s played his entire 13-year career with Kansas City and won three Super Bowls with the team
Travis Kelce isn’t hanging up his jersey just yet, according to a new report.
The NFL star, 36, is expected to return to the league for a 14th season, The Athletic reported on Sunday, March 8. However, there’s no guarantee that he’ll play for the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Kelce’s representatives are reportedly set to talk to various teams, despite the star tight end having played his entire career with the Chiefs since he was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Credit: Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty
The three-time Super Bowl champion’s contract with the Chiefs expires on Wednesday, March 11 after signing a two-year, $34.25 million extension in April 2024 that kept him with the team. He’s ranked 52nd on The Athletic’s list of top 150 free agents and is the No. 5 tight end.
The report comes amid long-running rumors that Kelce would retire in the wake of a disappointing season with the Chiefs. The team sported a losing record, lost quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a season-ending ACL injury and missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
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Kelce has yet to confirm his next move.
In January, Chiefs owner and CEO Clark Hunt shared his organization’s take on what’s to come in the next NFL season — and he endorsed the tight end’s decision if he elects to play a 14th season.
“Well as an organization, we certainly hope that he will come back,” Hunt said in a guest spot on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Andy Reid and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Credit: Jeff Bottari/Getty
Hunt added, “He had another great year, maybe not on par with where he was four or five years ago, but still had over 800 yards, and was really one of the leaders on the offensive side of the ball for us. So there’s no doubt in my mind that he can still play. We’re trying to be respectful and let him have the time that he needs to make a decision.”
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Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid spoke about the NFL vet’s future with the team during a February 20 press conference.
“There is communication. That’s the main thing,” Reid said. “That means people want to move forward. I think that’s where Trav is.”
President Mark Donovan, Head Coach Andy Reid, Owner and CEO Clark Hunt, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and General Manager Brett Veach of the Kansas City Chiefs pose on the red carpet upon arrival for “The Kingdom” on Aug. 24, 2025.
Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach revealed one week later that the team is taking a “different approach” with Kelce as he made a decision.
“I think we’ve kind of taken a different approach with Travis in the sense that I think we’ve kind of prepared for either scenario,” Veach told media during a press conference at the NFL scouting combline on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
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“Coach had mentioned on Friday that he’s had great dialogue with Travis on our end, myself, Chris Shea, Travis’ 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,” he added.
Taylor Swift celebrates with Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs after defeating the Buffalo Bills AFC Championship Game.
Credit: David Eulitt/Getty
In January, Kelce shared on his New Heights podcast that he would return under certain circumstances because he has “a lot of love for the game.”
“At the same time, if my body can heal up and rest up and I can feel confident that I can go out there and give it another 18, 20, 21-week run, I think, I would do it in a heartbeat,” he told his brother Jason Kelce.
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In making his decision to keep playing, Travis said he would lean on those close to him, including his fiancée Taylor Swift, as well as absorb colleagues’ and friends’ input.
“I think, yeah, just being a regular human for a couple weeks, maybe a month or so, trying to figure out what I’m gonna do next in terms of my future in football,” Travis explained when he was asked about his next steps after the season ended. “And I think, you know, I’ve talked to a few people in the facility already, you know, having the exit meetings and everything, and, they know where I stand at least right now.”
Earlier in the season, Kelce gave more insight as to how he was going to make his decision, and said that he would rely on Jason’s experience — when he retired from football after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 — to guide him.
Travis Kelce was emotional at his brother Jason Kelce’s retirement announcement.
Credit: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
“You know, seeing my brother go through it and seeing…just how the league works, the season kind of restarts in April, and I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity to know whether I come back or not,” Travis said.
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“And vice versa,” Kelce continued, saying with a smile: “Like, whether they want me back or not, it’s one of those things where I’d like to make that decision before they’ve got to get draft picks and free agency opens up.”
The Chiefs star said he wanted to put his team in the best position for the “opportunity to go out there and fill the roster appropriately” next season.
“So, all of that will be at the end of the season and I won’t be thinking about it until then,” Kelce said.
Read the original article on People