Travis Kelce seems able to return for a 14th NFL season — however Chiefs Kingdom may be confronted with a harsh actuality if he does.
Kelce’s representatives are ready to speak to “a number of groups” about signing him, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Jesse Newell reported on Sunday, March 8.
Whereas Kelce, 36, is “anticipated” to return for an additional season, “it isn’t a positive factor” that will probably be in Kansas Metropolis.
The famous person tight finish has been mulling his soccer future for the reason that Chiefs’ 2025-2026 season got here to a disappointing finish in January.
Kelce has performed all 13 seasons of his NFL profession in Kansas Metropolis. He’s presently a free agent.
The Athletic pointed to the Chiefs’ present monetary scenario as a possible prohibiting issue for signing Kelce.
“The Chiefs have restricted salary-cap room this season without spending a dime brokers like Kelce after signing so a lot of their gamers to long-term contracts in current offseasons,” Russini and Newell defined.
A choice about Kelce is predicted quickly, because the NFL free company interval opens on Wednesday, March 11.
ESPN Chiefs author Nate Taylor offered a little bit of a extra optimistic replace about Kelce staying in Kansas Metropolis final week.
“He’s coming again, guys,” Taylor mentioned on 96.5 The Fan on Wednesday, March 4. “Each indication I’ve gotten is that Travis Kelce is wanting ahead to coming again. After we’ll know that for positive, that’s actually his prerogative.”
Taylor additionally acknowledged the Chiefs’ present monetary scenario, saying, “I do know some individuals are like, ‘If he hasn’t actually signed earlier than free company begins, how does that have an effect on free company?’ I’m like, ‘Eh, it doesn’t actually have an effect on free company. They will allocate that cash nevertheless they need.’”
“They could give him — and I’ve mentioned this earlier than — possibly a two-year deal the place you’ll be able to unfold a few of that cash out and provides a fairly good chunk of signing bonus to get that base wage to be manageable for 2026,” Taylor added. “When you gotta eat it in 2027 if (Kelce) retires, you go forward and eat it. He’s given you the whole lot you can have requested for already.”
Taylor gave Chiefs followers a wide-lensed take a look at issues, urging them to be “lifelike” after quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn ACL in December 2025.
“What you get in 2026 you hope is so much higher than what you bought in 2025,” he mentioned. “If the quarterback comes by way of the 2026 season wholesome, hopefully you bought a crew that’s able to go in 2027 that’s younger, that’s youthful, that reminds you of what you noticed in 2022 and 2023, even when Travis Kelce isn’t round for the ’27 season.”
NFL free company formally opens at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.