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Report: Travis Kelce 'motivated' to return for 14th NFL season

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones03/08/26brianjones_93

After plenty of speculation about Travis Kelce playing in 2026, it looks like he will return for his 14th NFL season. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Kelce is “motivated” to play this fall, and he could sign a new contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Based on conversations with several teams, TE Travis Kelce appears motivated to return to play a 14th season,” Russini wrote on X/Twitter. “The Chiefs remain very much in the mix to re-sign the three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro.”

Because Kelce has spent his entire career with the Chiefs, it would make sense for him to return to the team in 2026 and end his career where it started. But Russini and Jesse Newell reported that Kelce’s representatives are expected to speak to multiple teams once the veteran tight end hits free agency this week.

While speaking to reporters at the NFL Combine in February, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach revealed the team’s approach to Kelce this offseason. “We’ve kind of prepared for either scenario (retire or come back),” Veach said on Feb. 24 in Indianapolis. “Coach (Andy Reid) mentioned on Friday he’d had great dialogue with Travis on our end.

Chiefs GM wants Travis Kelce to return to the team this fall

“Myself, (assistant general manager) Chris Shea, Travis’ crew, we’ve had some good dialogue there, and I’m sure we’re going to see him here, along with all the other players’ agents. And we’ll continue that dialogue. Travis is the best. He’s an icon. Hopefully, he comes back, and we’ll just kind of let that process play out.”

Kelce has nothing to prove, as he’s virtually done everything in his NFL career. The 36-year-old has helped the Chiefs reach five Super Bowls, and the team has won three of them. Kelce has been selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times and has been named to the All-Pro Team seven times (four times to the First Team). In 13 seasons, Kelce has caught 1,080 passes for 13,002 yards and 82 touchdowns.

Over the three seasons, Kelce has gained more attention due to his relationship with Taylor Swift. The couple began dating in 2023 and got engaged in August 2025.