Chiefs Bring Back Bieniemy, Aim to Revive Kelce's Role

Veteran tight end Travis Kelce to meet with team after Super Bowl to discuss future

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Kansas City Chiefs are making moves to revive the role of veteran tight end Travis Kelce, including bringing back offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Kelce is set to meet with the team after the Super Bowl to discuss his potential return for the 2026-27 season, as the Chiefs look to get him more involved in the offense after a slight dip in production last year.

Why it matters

Kelce is a key part of the Chiefs' offense, and keeping him engaged and productive is crucial for the team's success. The Chiefs are also facing salary cap challenges, so retaining Kelce long-term will require some creative maneuvering.

The details

After the Chiefs' 14-12 loss to the Raiders in the final game of the 2025-26 season, Kelce hinted that he may be considering retirement, saying "Who knows? It either hits me quick or I've got to take some time." However, the team has made it clear they want Kelce back, and are taking steps to ensure he remains a focal point of the offense. The return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is seen as a key move, as Kelce may have been underutilized at times last season, when he had 76 receptions for 851 yards and 5 touchdowns - down from 97 receptions the previous year.

  • The Chiefs' 2025-26 season ended on January 4, 2026 with a loss to the Raiders.
  • On Super Bowl Sunday, February 8, 2026, news broke that Kelce would be meeting with the Chiefs shortly after the Super Bowl.
  • On Thursday, February 12, 2026, NFL analyst Jesse Palmer discussed the Chiefs' plans to revive Kelce's role in the offense.

The players

Travis Kelce

A veteran tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs who is considering his future with the team after a slightly down season in 2025-26.

Eric Bieniemy

The offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, who is returning to the team after previously being considered for head coaching jobs elsewhere.

Jesse Palmer

An NFL analyst for The Athletic's 'Scoop City' show, who discussed the Chiefs' plans to revive Kelce's role in the offense.

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What they’re saying

“Who knows? It either hits me quick or I've got to take some time. Last year, it was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away, I wanted to give this [year] a shot. We'll see.”

— Travis Kelce (Heavy.com)

“I'm interested in the return of Eric Bieniemy. Talking to some people around the league this past week, it was 'Maybe we stalled out for a few different reasons as an offense in Kansas City, and EB might be able to change some of those.'”

— Jesse Palmer, NFL Analyst (The Athletic)

“And one of the things that I was told was maybe there were opportunities where Travis Kelce should have been still the main target or the priority within the progression in some of these times. And maybe they moved a little too far away.”

— Jesse Palmer, NFL Analyst (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Chiefs and Kelce are set to meet shortly after the Super Bowl to discuss his future with the team.

The takeaway

The Chiefs are making a concerted effort to keep their veteran tight end Travis Kelce engaged and productive, bringing back offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and planning to make Kelce a bigger focal point of the offense. This move highlights the team's commitment to Kelce and their desire to maximize his talents as they navigate the salary cap and look to contend for another championship.