The most significant storyline for the Kansas City Chiefs entering the offseason is the future of legendary tight end Travis Kelce. Retirement rumors are circulating for the 35-year-old superstar, and he's reportedly taking some time to assess things before announcing a final decision.
That said, most have surmised that the embarrassing nature of the Chiefs' Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles would push Kelce toward returning for one more season. He has a year left on his contract and while not the same player he once was, Kelce is still one of Kansas City's most important players and a beloved leader in the locker room.
Fortunately for Chiefs Kingdom, recent comments by general manager Brett Veach at the NFL Combine seemingly indicate that Kelce intends to come back.
#Chiefs GM Brett Veach said at the Combine that TE Travis Kelce is “fired up” about entering the final year of his contract and playing.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 25, 2025
“We left it as, he’d be back and we’re excited to get him back and get him going.”
Significant news for KC, as Kelce is set to return. pic.twitter.com/B8jjnmdV9E
Chiefs GM Brett Veach Indicates Travis Kelce Will Return in 2025
"We left it as, he'd be back and we're excited to get him back and get him going," Veach said. That's fantastic news for the Chiefs, who don't have a ready-made replacement lined up yet. It feels more probable than not that Kelce will retire after the 2025 season, though it's theoretically possible that he sticks around longer.
Based on his success off the field, Kelce certainly has plenty of opportunities waiting for him when he hangs up his cleats. Head coach Andy Reid mentioned that he told Kelce to get out of town and relax, and it sounds like the rest has done the tight end good.
Kelce caught 97 passes for 823 yards and three TDs last year, the lowest yardage total of any full season he's played. His run of dominant postseason games came to an end, though he still hauled in seven passes for 117 yards and a score against the Houston Texans.
He's earned the right to take as much time as he needs to, but the decision may already have been made. Kelce is one of the best athletes this city has ever seen, and it'd be fitting to give him a proper farewell tour should 2025 be his last.
For now, fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief. Barring a surprise, Kelce will still be a Chief next season.