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Travis Kelce seemingly isn’t ready for a new era quite yet. Multiple sources reported Monday that the Kansas City Chiefs’ longtime tight end is expected to return for a 14th season. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, news of the deal was shared with teams that have expressed interest in the veteran tight end. Insiders later reported the Chiefs are giving Kelce a one-year, $12 million deal with a maximum value of $15 million.While he may have been able to earn a pay raise elsewhere, Kelce’s loyalty lies with Kansas City, the team he’s spent his career with. He’ll stick beside quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Co. as the team looks to turn things around after a rough season. And it’s a welcome return: Shortly after the reports came out, Mahomes posted pictures of the duo with a simple caption of two emojis, a clock and a bow and arrow. Teammates like Chris Jones have been outspoken in their hope that Kelce would come back. “We have just been through so much together, man, and Travis has been a pivotal point of this offense for so long,” Jones said after the Chiefs’ last home game. “You know, he’s been like a brother. Man, it’s like … to watch Trav go. I hope this isn’t the last year. I hope you give me one more year. Just one more. Man, just one more.” Jones praised the news of Kelce’s return on social media, posting a crown emoji and “we’re so back.” Kelce spoke about the possibility of coming back in January, saying that if he thought his body could handle it, he “would do it in a heartbeat.” Kelce, who turns 37 in October, finished the 2025 season with 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns. For his career, he has totaled 1,080 receptions for 13,002 yards and 82 touchdown catches in the regular season. His possible return keeps several historic milestones within reach.Kelce is just 45 receiving yards away from passing Jason Witten for second place on the NFL’s all-time receiving yards list among tight ends. Only Tony Gonzalez, who finished with 15,127 yards, remains ahead of him. Since being selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, he has helped the franchise win three Super Bowls and has become the team’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.Kelce’s postseason resume is just as impressive. He has 178 career playoff receptions and 2,078 receiving yards, both among the best totals in NFL history, and his 20 postseason touchdown catches rank second all-time behind Jerry Rice.
Travis Kelce seemingly isn’t ready for a new era quite yet.
Multiple sources reported Monday that the Kansas City Chiefs’ longtime tight end is expected to return for a 14th season.
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According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, news of the deal was shared with teams that have expressed interest in the veteran tight end.
Insiders later reported the Chiefs are giving Kelce a one-year, $12 million deal with a maximum value of $15 million.
While he may have been able to earn a pay raise elsewhere, Kelce’s loyalty lies with Kansas City, the team he’s spent his career with. He’ll stick beside quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Co. as the team looks to turn things around after a rough season.
And it’s a welcome return: Shortly after the reports came out, Mahomes posted pictures of the duo with a simple caption of two emojis, a clock and a bow and arrow.
Teammates like Chris Jones have been outspoken in their hope that Kelce would come back.
“We have just been through so much together, man, and Travis has been a pivotal point of this offense for so long,” Jones said after the Chiefs’ last home game. “You know, he’s been like a brother. Man, it’s like … to watch Trav go. I hope this isn’t the last year. I hope you give me one more year. Just one more. Man, just one more.”
Jones praised the news of Kelce’s return on social media, posting a crown emoji and “we’re so back.”
Kelce spoke about the possibility of coming back in January, saying that if he thought his body could handle it, he “would do it in a heartbeat.”
Kelce, who turns 37 in October, finished the 2025 season with 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns.
For his career, he has totaled 1,080 receptions for 13,002 yards and 82 touchdown catches in the regular season.
His possible return keeps several historic milestones within reach.
Kelce is just 45 receiving yards away from passing Jason Witten for second place on the NFL’s all-time receiving yards list among tight ends. Only Tony Gonzalez, who finished with 15,127 yards, remains ahead of him.
Since being selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, he has helped the franchise win three Super Bowls and has become the team’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.
Kelce’s postseason resume is just as impressive.
He has 178 career playoff receptions and 2,078 receiving yards, both among the best totals in NFL history, and his 20 postseason touchdown catches rank second all-time behind Jerry Rice.
