Travis Kelce isn’t ready to commit to playing football in 2026, but as the Kansas City Chiefs tight end told assembled media at this week’s minicamp, 2025 was never in doubt.
‘I got one year on this contract, I know that,’ the 35-year-old said Wednesday at the second of three voluntary practices. ‘And we’ll try to figure out something for next year,’ Kelce said after the second day of the Chiefs’ mandatory three-day minicamp, which was moved partially indoors because of lightning in the area.
‘The Chiefs organization knows how much I love them. I can’t see myself playing anywhere else,’ Kelce continued. ‘We’ll deal with [2026] down the road, when the time is right. But right now, I’m focused on winning a championship this year.’
Unlike last year, when he and girlfriend Taylor Swift couldn’t stay out of the spotlight, Travis has enjoyed a much quieter break from NFL duties this time around, with the couple keen to unwind together away from the cameras in recent months.
In fact, he was noncommittal about returning after February’s Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, saying on his subsequent New Heights podcast he would ‘take some time to figure it out.’
Kelce was fifth among tight ends in 2024 with 823 receiving yards, but that total was his lowest since his sophomore season in 2014.
Travis Kelce isn’t ready to commit to playing football in 2026, but as the Kansas City Chiefs tight end told assembled media at this week’s minicamp, 2025 was never in doubt
The tight end also hauled in just three touchdowns this season and was quiet in Super Bowl LIX, when the Chiefs suffered a 40-22 loss.
‘Really didn’t feel like it was my last game,’ Kelce said. ‘Just felt like I had a lot more to prove.
‘Yeah, you want to let the emotions die down; you don’t want to make a decision off initial emotions. Once they died down, I felt like I still had that fire in my chest to come in and keep building and chase another Super Bowl, man.’
There had been some reports that Kelce had dropped 25 pounds to prepare for the 2025 season, but the University of Cincinnati product somewhat dismissed that speculation on Wednesday.
‘Don’t believe all you read on the internet, guys. I’m down some weight from the end of last season – last year – but each year is different, man. You have to rebuild it,’ he said. ‘This year, I had some time to really focus on some form running and some things early in the offseason that I didn’t have time for last year. Certainly feeling good and I think it’ll pay off.’
For his part, quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters he never pressured Kelce to return in 2025.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce participates in a drill during minicamp on Tuesday
And according to the three-time Super Bowl MVP, Kelce appears to be primed for another big season.
‘I think you have in the back of your mind, for anybody that’s played a lot of seasons, there’s always the chance if they’re going to come back and put in the work,’ Mahomes said. ‘For him, I think it was just recalibrating, seeing where he was at, and from what I’ve seen, he’s ready to go. He’s put in the work this offseason and he’s excited to make another run at it.’
The Chiefs will wrap up minicamp on Thursday before returning to Missouri Western State University for training camp, starting on July 21.
And even though he’ll be a 30-something millionaire packed into a crowded college dorm for a month, Kelce remains excited about the upcoming season.
‘I love this game. It’s still my childhood dream,’ Kelce said. ‘When I really thought about it this offseason, I got back to wanting to focus on this game and getting the most out of this game as I can, while I’m still putting on the cleats and pads. This will always be No. 1 in terms of my business world and career path.’
