Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is coming back for another NFL season and looking to build on a bounce-back season in 2025.
Kelce briefly considered retirement before deciding to come back, signing a three-year deal that will essentially give him a year-by-year commitment to the Chiefs. One analyst believes he will build on the momentum of last season as the Chiefs look to get back into the playoffs.
Travis Kelce Still on Top of His Game
Reporter Justin Foote of SI.com made an early prediction at the starting lineup for the Chiefs, noting that there will be no drama at tight end as Kelce has the position locked down. Though it appeared his career was on the downswing in 2024, Kelce put off retirement and improved in 2025.
“After a letdown 2024 season, future Hall of Fame man Travis Kelce rebounded this past campaign,” Foote wrote. “His volume stats didn’t show it (19 fewer catches and only 28 more yards), but on a per-snap basis, he was quite effective.”
Kelce ended up having his most productive season in years, Foote wrote, and could be headed for another one.
“Kelce’s 11.2 yards per reception marked his highest total since 2022, as did his 5.6 yards after catch per reception. Throw in the third-most total EPA among all tight ends on the year, and you get someone who turned back the clock just a bit,” Foote wrote. “Kelce can’t be the focal point of an offense anymore, sure. But in what could be the final season of his illustrious career, rest assured knowing no one will start over him.”
Travis Kelce Welcoming New Teammates
Kelce has already settled back into his role as ambassador to the team’s newer players, welcoming some of the new draft picks and sharing praise for second-round edge rusher R Mason Thomas.
“A lot of top-10 teams, they’re really not too good, but that’s not the situation here,” Kelce said, via NFL.com. “We have a championship team, just had one little down year, but we’re right back at it, and that’s what I’m talking about, baby. Already coming with the mindset of being a top team. I absolutely love it.”
Kelce shared a big prediction for the rookie, saying he has a chance to step into a major role on the defense.
“The guy is a freak of nature in terms of athleticism and explosiveness,” Kelce said of the edge rusher. “I can’t wait to see how this guy gets after the quarterback. It’s been kind of something that the Chiefs have been looking at to get better at, and that’s getting after the QB and really putting quarterbacks under duress. Obviously, we’ve always had Chris Jones there, and George (Karlaftis) is a workhorse.
“I think this is going to be a game-changer at the edge position. I know he had a hamstring last year on an unbelievable fumble recovery. So we’ll see him when he gets in the building. I’m sure Spags (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) will have a fun time putting him to work as well.”
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Faces Big Prediction for 2026