Travis Kelce Reportedly Signs Contract to Return to Chiefs for 2026 After Retirement Rumors

Travis Kelce won't be making a full-time pivot to podcasting just yet.

The veteran tight end will suit up for the 2026 NFL season and return to the Kansas City Chiefs after reporting agreeing to a new contract, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Kelce will make $12 million with a chance to make up to $15 million.

Rapoport first reported the veteran's plans to return to the Chiefs on Monday:

Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones appears to be hyped for Kelce's potential return:

The 36-year-old has never put a definitive timeline on his retirement, and he once said in 2024 he intends to keep going "until the wheels fall off." The previous fall, however, he admitted to J.R. Moehringer of WSJ. Magazine that he contemplated his future "more than anyone could ever imagine."

In November, Kelce told reporters he wouldn't make any decisions about his career until after the 2025 season, and he didn't want to leave Kansas City in the lurch one way or the other.

"It's one of those things where I'd like to make that decision before they have draft picks and free agency opens, and they can go out there and fill the roster appropriately," he said. "All of that will be after the season. I won't think about it until then."

Kelce continued to be a productive receiver, albeit at a level below his peak. He caught 76 passes for 851 yards and five touchdowns.

Kelce Dominates in Record-Setting Night

00:29

More than the fact he isn't getting any younger, the downturn in the Chiefs' on-field fortunes pointed to retirement being more likely than ever.

Kelce wasn't going to walk away when Kansas City was reaching the Super Bowl time and again. Now, the franchise is coming off a season in which it missed the playoffs and saw quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffer a torn ACL.

General manager Brett Veach doesn't need to overhaul the roster, and having Mahomes is still something of a cheat code from a roster-building perspective.

But few will have the Chiefs as the team to beat in the AFC. The need to upgrade the receiving corps is obvious, and another pass-rusher opposite George Karlaftis III would help.

Kelce is either content to ride through any one-year reset, or he believes Kansas City can make an immediate turnaround in 2026 despite Mahomes' uncertain immediate outlook due to the injury.

While Kelce's destined to maintain a key role in the passing game, it will be interesting to see if Veach identifies the eventual long-term successor in the 2026 NFL draft.