Travis Kelce hasn’t made any official announcements about his future just yet, but he may have just dropped the biggest clue we’ve seen so far - and it came with a side of nostalgia.
The three-time Super Bowl champ is staring down a major career crossroads. His contract with the Kansas City Chiefs expired at the end of the season, and retirement is clearly on the table. But if there’s one thing that might pull him back for another run, it’s the return of a familiar face: Eric Bieniemy.
During a recent episode of the New Heights podcast with his brother Jason, Kelce lit up when talking about the Chiefs’ reported plans to bring Bieniemy back into the fold.
“I can’t wait to see [Bieniemy] back in the building, man,” Kelce said. “He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time. One of my favorite people of all time.”
That’s not just lip service. Kelce’s admiration for Bieniemy runs deep, and it’s rooted in years of shared success.
From 2018 to 2022, Bieniemy served as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator - a five-year stretch that saw the Kansas City offense reach historic heights. Under his guidance, the unit never finished lower than sixth in the league in scoring or total yardage.
Twice, they led the NFL in both.
And Kelce? He was right at the heart of it.
During Bieniemy’s tenure, the All-Pro tight end averaged a staggering 107.7 receptions, 1,369.4 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 75 first downs per 17 games. That’s not just elite production - that’s Hall of Fame-level dominance.
Since Bieniemy’s departure, though, Kelce’s numbers have dipped. Over the past three seasons, his 17-game averages have dropped to 88.7 catches, 941.4 yards, 4.6 touchdowns, and 50.6 first downs. Still solid, but clearly not the same kind of game-breaking impact we saw when Bieniemy was calling the shots.
And it’s not just Kelce who’s felt the difference. Patrick Mahomes’ quarterback rating during Bieniemy’s run as OC sat at a lofty 106. Since then, that number has dropped to 92 - a noticeable decline for one of the game’s brightest stars.
Bieniemy, meanwhile, has been on a bit of a journey. After a brief stint as UCLA’s offensive coordinator in 2024 and a season coaching running backs in Chicago under Ben Johnson in 2025, he’s reportedly set to return to Kansas City in 2026 - likely in the same role he once dominated.
Kelce had high praise for Bieniemy’s influence in Chicago, too.
“You can kinda see his personality, what he brings to the table in that Chicago team,” Kelce said. “You can see in those running backs over in Chicago and their body of work - that was definitely an Eric Bieniemy style of football.”
It’s clear that Bieniemy’s coaching DNA still resonates with Kelce. And if the Chiefs are serious about reloading for another Super Bowl push, bringing back a coordinator who already has a proven track record with both Kelce and Mahomes makes all the sense in the world.
As for Kelce’s future? He’s not rushing into anything. When asked earlier this month about his offseason plans, he said he’d be taking a few weeks to spend time with family and decompress before making any decisions.
But if you’re reading between the lines - and listening to the way Kelce talks about Bieniemy - it sure sounds like the door is still very much open for one more run in Kansas City.