Travis Kelce has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, but right now, all eyes are on him for a different reason - whether or not he’ll suit up for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs. The future Hall of Fame tight end hasn’t made anything official yet, but there are signs - and they’re pointing toward a return.
One of the biggest indicators? Kelce’s reaction to a familiar face returning to the building: Eric Bieniemy.
The longtime offensive coordinator, who helped sculpt some of the most explosive offenses in recent memory during his previous stint from 2018 to 2022, is back in Kansas City. And Kelce couldn’t be happier.
“I think it’s great,” Kelce said earlier this month on New Heights, the podcast he co-hosts with his brother, Jason. “I can’t wait to see him back in the building.
He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player.”
That’s not just a casual compliment. That’s a veteran player lighting up at the idea of reuniting with a coach who helped shape his prime years. Kelce didn’t stop there, either: “I just love the guy, and it’s going to be awesome to see him back in the building and seeing him wear the Chiefs’ logo.”
It’s hard not to read between the lines. When a player talks about a coach returning in that kind of tone - with that level of personal connection and anticipation - it sure doesn’t sound like someone ready to walk away from the game.
Bieniemy, for his part, only added to the buzz this week. Speaking about reconnecting with Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, he said, “I’ve had a small minimal conversation with both and they all have been great, but more than anything, it’s just the excitement of reuniting.”
He emphasized that these weren’t football meetings - no playbooks, no schemes. Just the kind of catch-ups that happen when people who’ve built something special together find themselves back under the same roof.
“It feels good just to sit down and have conversations with guys,” Bieniemy added. “To be honest, I haven’t talked any football or anything, it’s just the excitement of seeing each other.”
That kind of chemistry doesn’t just disappear. And when you combine it with the public support Kelce’s getting from the top of the organization - team owner Clark Hunt has already made it clear the franchise would love to have him back - the picture starts to come into focus.
Kelce has nothing left to prove. He’s already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest tight ends to ever play the game. But the allure of one more run, with Mahomes slinging it, Bieniemy calling plays, and the Chiefs still very much in win-now mode - that’s a tough combination to walk away from.
So while the final word is still Kelce’s to give, the signs are there. The reunion is brewing. And if it all comes together, the Chiefs might just be gearing up for another championship push with their core trio back in sync.