Chiefs TE Travis Kelce sends message to NFL teams ahead free agency that he’s running it back with Kansas City for Year 14

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is back at the buzzer.

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor
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After months of speculation about his future, Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce has finally made a decision.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kelce has informed NFL teams that he will return to Kansas City for a 14th season. Rapoport says he’s leaving money on the table and taking a discount to return to the Chiefs, which should come as no surprise given how he’s gone about things through his entire career. This comes after a season in which Kelce had a team-leading 76 receptions for 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

A former third-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of the University of Cincinnati, Kelce has already accomplished more than most players could even dream of in the NFL. He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion (LIV, LVII, and LVIII), a four-time First-Team All-Pro, a three-time Second-Team All-Pro, an 11-time Pro Bowler, and a member of the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team.

Kelce has already made his mark on franchise history with records for total touchdowns, receiving touchdowns, receptions, receiving yards, 100-yard games, receptions of 20+ yards, and all-purpose yards. He also has his fair share of NFL records, but after a disappointing 2025 campaign, he’s coming back for more with the hopes of going out on top.

Travis Kelce can further solidify his standing as the NFL’s greatest tight end of all-time in 14th season

Former Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez remains the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards (15,127) and receptions (1,325) among the tight end position. Kelce is closing in on both numbers with 13,002 receiving yards and 1,080 receptions. He can firmly cement himself in the No. 2 spot behind Gonzalez in 2026, but he’ll have to play for a few more years if he’s to go after the all-time records held by Gonzalez. Kelce is just 57 yards shy of surpassing Jason Witten for the second-most all-time yards among tight ends.

Kelce has averaged 96 receptions per season during his NFL career. If he hit that mark again in 2026, he’d have 1,176 career receptions, which would rank him top-5 all-time amongst NFL pass-catchers regardless of position. He’d surpass Tim Brown, Cris Carter, and Marvin Harrison, falling behind only Jerry Rice, Larry Fitzgerald, Tony Gonzalez, and Jason Witten.

Should the Chiefs return to glory in terms of postseason success, Kelce could continue to stamp his name in the NFL history books. He’s already the NFL’s all-time leader in playoff receptions (178), but he’s still behind Jerry Rice for the most all-time postseason receiving yards (2,245) and touchdowns (22). Kelce needs just three more receptions to own the NFL’s all-time record for the most career receptions in Super Bowl history.

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