Travis Kelce has not announced whether he plans to return for another season, but one NFL insider believes the Kansas City Chiefs should treat his decision as a major offseason priority. As the team looks ahead to 2026, ESPN’s Nate Taylor pointed to Kelce’s importance — not only because of production, but because of the trust he has built with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Here’s what Taylor said the Chiefs should focus on next, what Kelce has said about retirement, and why the tight end has admitted this decision has been on his mind for years.
ESPN Insider Says Chiefs Should Try to Bring Travis Kelce Back
ESPN’s Nate Taylor said the Chiefs’ offseason includes a clear secondary priority beyond roster-building: trying to convince Kelce to return.
“Convince tight end Travis Kelce to return. The odds might not be in the Chiefs’ favor, but he is still productive and someone Patrick Mahomes trusts over any other pass catcher. A reasonable one-year contract could lead to Kelce returning to the roster for Mahomes’ return following his recovery from a left knee injury,” Taylor wrote.
Taylor’s quote framed Kelce’s future as something the Chiefs should actively work to shape — especially as Mahomes’ recovery shapes what the offense may look like next season.
Kelce Says He Doesn’t Know Yet — and It Might Take Time
With a healthy Mahomes, he was on pace for 1,000 yards & 7 TDs — which would’ve been his 8th 1K season, the most EVER by a TE 🐐
Next closest TE? Only 4 😳
Unreal career (so far)😈📊
Kelce addressed retirement after the Chiefs’ 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. He made it clear he hasn’t decided whether he will play another year and isn’t sure how quickly he will decide.
“Who knows?” Kelce said, via ESPN. “Either it hits me quick or I’ve got to take some time. Last year was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away I wanted to kind of give this one [year] a shot. We’ll see.”
Kelce also reflected on the season and his connection to the team.
“I just love this team,” he said. “I’m proud of the way we finished this, even though it ended the way it did. The guys still showed up and gave it their all. That’s all you can ask for, man.”
Kelce added: “I’ve got so much love for this team, this organization and the people here. I’ll spend some time with them, go through exit meetings [Monday] and get close to the family and figure things out.”
Meanwhile, Chiefs defensive leader Chris Jones voiced confidence that Kelce will return.
“He’ll be back next year,” Jones said of Kelce. “I’ve got faith in my dawg coming back.”
Jones continued, “Hopefully, this is not his last year.”
Travis Kelce Said He Thinks About Retirement Back in 2023
Kelce previously spoke about retirement in WSJ Magazine’s December/January 2023 issue, acknowledging it’s something he thinks about regularly because of the physical reality of playing football.
Kelce said he thinks about retiring “more than anyone could ever imagine,” while describing the long-term toll of the sport.
“That’s the only thing I’ve never really been open about … the discomfort. The pain. The lingering injuries — the 10 surgeries I’ve had,” Kelce said. He added that he still feels “every single surgery to this day.”
The report also included insight from Chiefs tight ends coach Tom Melvin, who said Kelce continues playing through injuries that sideline many players.
“He has phenomenal pain tolerance,” Melvin said. “He’s played through things that other athletes I’ve coached through the years have not been able to push through.”
NFL Insider Weighs In On Exactly What the Chiefs Should Do About Travis Kelce