How far are the Chiefs from making it back to the Super Bowl? (1:51)
The “Get Up” crew weighs in on how far off the Chiefs are from returning to a Super Bowl. (1:51)
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Nate TaylorMar 9, 2026, 11:45 AM ET
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Kelce, one of the NFL’s most illustrious tight ends and a three-time champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, has informed the Chiefs that he’s returning for a 14th season with the team, a source told ESPN on Monday.
Kelce made his decision just ahead of the start of the NFL’s free agency period, as he was set to become an unrestricted free agent. As one of the league’s best tight ends, Kelce would’ve been an intriguing option for several teams, but a source told ESPN that he informed the Chiefs on Monday morning his intentions to stay alongside coach Andy Reid — his only coach throughout his NFL career — quarterback Patrick Mahomes and pass rusher Chris Jones.
Two weeks ago, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach acknowledged that the team was hopeful that Kelce would return for another season, one that could be the last in his distinguished career.
“Travis is the best,” Veach said at the NFL combine. “He’s an icon, and hopefully he comes back. We’ll just kind of let that process play out. It’s not your typical 27-year-old [and] first time at free agency. Travis has done everything and has 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 get something done — you need to have some sort of deadline [or] timeline — but at the same time he’s Travis Kelce.”
The details of Kelce’s contract are still unknown, but he could return for a one-year deal or a two-year deal to help give the Chiefs more flexibility with their salary cap.
Last month, Reid smiled when he shared a positive update on Kelce’s status, indicating that the Chiefs’ longest-tenured player was preparing for another season.
“There is communication,” Reid said of Kelce. “That’s the main thing. I’ve said this before: As long as there’s communication, I’m good. That means people want to move forward.”
Even at age 36, Kelce still led the Chiefs last season in targets (108), receptions (76), yards (851), touchdowns (five) and receiving first downs (45).
In early January, when the Chiefs’ season ended, Kelce said he was uncertain about his future in the NFL, but he did vow to make a decision by early March ahead of the NFL’s free agency period.
Before last season, Kelce rededicated himself by having training sessions that were designed to improve his quickness and recapture some of the speed and agility he lost during the previous two years. The improved athleticism led Kelce to once again create yards after the catch, leading the Chiefs in that category (424).
He finished last season by becoming the third tight end in NFL history to record at least 13,000 career receiving yards, doing so in just 192 games, the fastest to such an achievement. Kelce also became the second player in league history to record 75 receptions for 10 consecutive seasons, joining Hall of Fame receiver Tim Brown.
On Christmas Day against the Denver Broncos, Chiefs fans inside Arrowhead Stadium — unsure if that night was going to be Kelce’s final home game — chanted “Kel-ce! Kel-ce, Kel-ce!” in the final minutes to express their gratitude and appreciation for one of the franchise’s greatest players.
The Chiefs originally selected Kelce with the 63rd pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the same year Reid joined the team.
