The news that Travis Kelce would return in 2025 for the Kansas City Chiefs was met with a big exhale from Chiefs Kingdom.

This was due to what Kelce brings to the offense both on and off the field and partly due to the Chiefs not having a backup plan if the future Hall of Famer did retire. There is Noah Gray, but is he ready to step into the No. 1 tight end role?

But just because Kelce is returning, it doesn’t mean it will be in the same capacity, and Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna has detailed as much. In truth, it’s a smart move by the franchise.

“In 2025, the Chiefs will continue to reduce Kelce’s importance in the offense by emphasizing their receiving corps,” McKenna wrote. “That should mean limiting his workload. Now we’ve heard from Kelce that he’s returning. But it’ll look different in 2025.”

Reducing Kelce’s workload will mean others will need to step up in his place, which will be by design. The receiving corps idea is an interesting one with DeAndre Hopkins, Juju Smith-Schuster, and Marquise Brown all free agents, leaving Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice as Patrick Mahomes’ go-to guys.

It also tells us that if this is the way Kansas City goes, investment in the receiver room will be happening this offseason, but in what capacity is unknown.

This news is a clear indication that the Chiefs’ offense doesn’t want Kelce at the focal point anymore. In truth, the aging tight end needs a breather, and in 2025, it seems like he’ll get it.