Travis Kelce’s Future in Kansas City: Why the Chiefs (and Fans) Are Still Holding Out Hope
Travis Kelce isn’t rushing into any big decisions just yet-but if you ask Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, the door is wide open for a return. And frankly, the Chiefs would love nothing more than to see No. 87 back on the field in 2026.
Kelce, 36, has been the subject of retirement speculation ever since Kansas City wrapped up its regular season with a deflating loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on January 4. That loss capped a frustrating campaign that saw the defending champs tumble from Super Bowl favorites to missing the playoffs altogether. But even in a down year for the team, Kelce remained a steady force-logging over 800 receiving yards and continuing to lead both on the field and in the locker room.
Speaking on Good Morning Football, Hunt didn’t shy away from sharing the organization’s stance: “As an organization, we certainly hope that he will come back,” Hunt said. “He had another great year-maybe not on par with where he was four or five years ago, but he still had over 800 yards and really was one of the leaders on the offensive side of the ball. There’s no doubt in my mind that he can still play.”
That last part is key. Even as Kelce enters the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, the Chiefs clearly believe he has more left in the tank.
But they’re also giving him the space to make the call on his own terms. With an engagement and upcoming wedding on his offseason calendar, Kelce has more than just football on his mind.
Still, there’s a growing sense that we haven’t seen the last of him in a Chiefs uniform-and a big reason for that is the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Kelce lit up when talking about Bieniemy’s return on a recent episode of New Heights, the podcast he co-hosts with his brother Jason. And it’s not hard to see why.
During Bieniemy’s five-year run as OC in Kansas City, Kelce was virtually unstoppable-averaging 107.7 receptions, 1,369.4 yards, 10 touchdowns and 75 first downs per 17 games. That’s elite production by any standard, and it’s no coincidence that his numbers dipped after Bieniemy left: over the past three seasons, Kelce’s averages dropped to 88.7 catches, 941.4 yards, 4.6 touchdowns and 50.6 first downs.
The chemistry between Kelce and Bieniemy was a big part of what made the Chiefs’ offense so dynamic-and it wasn’t just Kelce who thrived. Patrick Mahomes’ quarterback rating during Bieniemy’s tenure sat at a stellar 106.
Since then, it’s fallen to 92. While those numbers don’t tell the whole story, they do highlight how much of a difference Bieniemy made in Kansas City’s offensive rhythm.
According to a source close to the situation, Bieniemy’s return has “jolted” Kelce’s interest in running it back for one more season. The chance to reunite with Mahomes, Bieniemy, and head coach Andy Reid-while chasing one last ring-seems to be pulling at Kelce’s competitive instincts.
“Travis wants to go out on his terms,” the source said. “He’s wanted to do that all along, and it looks like it would now take some serious convincing for him to retire.”
If Kelce does decide to return, there’s still the matter of a new contract. His current deal expires at the end of this season, so a fresh agreement would need to be worked out. But that’s a bridge the Chiefs would be more than willing to cross if it means keeping one of their all-time greats in the fold.
For now, Kelce is taking his time. He’s made it clear he won’t be rushing into a decision, instead choosing to spend the early part of the offseason with family and loved ones. But with Bieniemy back in the building and unfinished business still lingering, it’s fair to say the odds of a farewell tour in 2026 are looking better by the day.
And if that’s the case, Chiefs Kingdom-and the NFL as a whole-should be ready for one more season of vintage Travis Kelce.