Travis Kelce: Kansas City Chiefs tight end to play 14th season in NFL despite retirement rumours
Three-time Super Bowl-winning tight end Travis Kelce is staying with the Kansas City Chiefs for a 14th season in the NFL despite having been linked to retirement this offseason
Wednesday 11 March 2026 14:55, UK
Travis Kelce is back for more. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is staying at Arrowhead for a 14th season despite retirement talks.
Kelce has won three Super Bowl rings during his 13 campaigns with the team as one of the leading faces of Andy Reid's Chiefs dynasty alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The 36-year-old helped Kansas City reach the Super Bowl in five of six seasons from 2019-2024 while breaking NFL records in postseason receptions, Super Bowl receptions and postseason touchdown catches by a tight end.
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NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Kelce turned down the offer of more money from other teams during free agency in order to stay with the Chiefs.
On Wednesday, the Chiefs then confirmed that Kelce will be staying with them for another season.
Kelce had seemingly been pondering retirement in the wake of a disappointing season that saw his Chiefs miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Kelce finished the campaign with 76 catches for 851 yards through the air as Reid's offense stumbled to a 6-11 campaign while failing to win the AFC West for the first time since 2015.
It was also announced that the Chiefs are signing Super Bowl MVP-winning running back Kenneth Walker III on a three-year $45m deal, bolstering their offense in view of Patrick Mahomes' return from a knee injury next season.
Kelce, a third-round pick for the Chiefs at the 2013 Draft, became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 13,000 receiving yards last season, doing so in a record time of just 192 games.
Besides serving as a staple of Kansas City's dominance and Mahomes' most trusted target, Kelce has also garnered global recognition away from the field in light of his relationship with pop sensation Taylor Swift.
