Chiefs 'Anticipating' Travis Kelce Will Return in 2025 amid Retirement Buzz, GM Says

Travis Kelce may not be ready to hang up his cleats just yet, at least according to Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach.

Speaking to reporters from the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, Veach said the Chiefs are "anticipating" that Kelce will return for the 2025 season.

During the Chiefs' postseason run, Kelce seemed to go back and forth on the possibility of retirement. He told Stephen A. Smith in an interview on Jan. 15 that his thoughts on retiring change "every single day" (starts at 23:35 mark).

After the Chiefs' 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59, Kelce didn't address any questions about his retirement. Patrick Mahomes said he thought Kelce "has a lot of football left in him" if he wanted to put in the work to go through another season.

Per The Athletic's Nate Taylor and Cale Clinton, the Chiefs wanted Kelce to give them an answer about his future by March 14 so they could properly plan for their offseason.

March 14 is also the date when Kelce's $11.5 million roster bonus for the 2025 season is due, per Spotrac.

If Kelce is returning, the Chiefs' pass-catching group next year looks formidable on paper. Xavier Worthy finished the year strong with 287 yards and three touchdowns in three playoff games.

Rashee Rice, who suffered a season-ending LCL injury in Week 4, figures to be ready for the start of 2025, although his availability could be complicated by a potential suspension under the NFL's personal conduct policy for his involvement in a six-car crash in March 2024 and an alleged assault at a Dallas nightclub two months later.

Rice has been charged with eight different counts related to the car crash. He won't face charges from the person over the alleged assault, though police are still investigating the situation.

Kelce is coming off the least productive season of his career, not including his rookie campaign in 2013, when a knee injury limited him to one game. He finished this year with 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 97 receptions.

The 35-year-old has had his two worst seasons by yards per reception in each of the past two years. He remains the go-to pass-catcher for Mahomes, leading the team in targets (133), receptions (97) and receiving yards (823) this season.

Even a diminished version of Kelce is still capable of great moments in big spots. He had a season-high 117 yards in Kansas City's 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round.