Chiefs Owner Hopeful Travis Kelce Will Return for 2026 Season

Kelce weighing future after 13 seasons with Kansas City

Jan. 27, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt expressed hope that star tight end Travis Kelce will return for the 2026 NFL season, despite Kelce weighing his future after 13 seasons with the team. Kelce is coming off a productive 2025 campaign, but is also set to get married to singer Taylor Swift in the offseason, which has his focus elsewhere at the moment.

Why it matters

Kelce is a future Hall of Famer and one of the most dominant tight ends of his era, so his potential retirement would be a major loss for the Chiefs and the NFL. However, the team is trying to be respectful of Kelce's personal life and decision-making process.

The details

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said in a recent interview that the organization "certainly hopes" Kelce will return for the 2026 season, noting that the team believes the 33-year-old tight end can still play at a high level. Kelce is coming off a 2025 season in which he recorded 851 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns, solid numbers but down from his usual elite production.

  • Kelce is set to get married to singer Taylor Swift in the offseason.
  • The Chiefs are currently in offseason mode, focusing on roster decisions for the 2026 season.

The players

Travis Kelce

A future Hall of Fame tight end who has spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs, emerging as one of the league's most dominant players at his position.

Clark Hunt

The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, who expressed hope that Kelce will return for the 2026 season in a recent interview.

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What they’re saying

“As an organization, we certainly hope that he will come back. There's no doubt in my mind that he can still play, we're trying to be respectful & let him have the time that he needs to make a decision. But we certainly hope that he'll be back.”

— Clark Hunt, Chiefs Owner (Good Morning Football)

What’s next

The Chiefs will likely continue to give Kelce space to make his decision on his future, but they are hopeful he will return for the 2026 season and help the team make another Super Bowl run.

The takeaway

Kelce's potential retirement would be a major loss for the Chiefs and the NFL, but the team is taking a respectful approach and allowing him to weigh his options, including his upcoming marriage to Taylor Swift. Kelce's decision will be a key storyline to watch in the coming months as the Chiefs prepare for the 2026 season.