When the 2025 season ended earlier than anyone expected for the Kansas City Chiefs, tight end Travis Kelce had a lot of time to weigh his big decision. A reasonable deadline felt like the start of the NFL Scouting Combine, which is the unofficial start to the race of offseason moves that will have any NFL fan’s head spinning once the legal tampering period opens on March 9.
For any of the 32 general managers causing the chaos, it would be important to know if a legendary player like Kelce was going to play in 2026. It would be reasonable for the Chiefs’ Brett Veach to ask for assurance in either direction by the time the football world starts gathering in Indianapolis on Monday.
That doesn’t mean the public will know by then, especially because Kelce is a free agent needing to negotiate a contract to officially come back, but the two sides have stayed in touch.
Head coach Andy Reid shared that information with local media during a Zoom press conference on Friday afternoon. He was asked if there was any indication he has felt from Kelce on returning for his 14th season.
“No, there is communication, though,” Reid pointed out. “As long as there’s communication, I’m good. That means people want to move forward, and I think that’s where Trav is.”
“I’m not trying to put words in his mouth at all,” Reid clarified. “And I try to give him space here. He has been doing this a long time; he can sort all that out as he goes forward, but we’re proceeding with that, and there is communication going on.”
Whether it has been Kelce himself or now Reid, there have only been positive indicators that the all-time tight end wants to play next season. It shouldn’t be surprising if the news comes out next week.
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