Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

New report sheds light on Chiefs TE Travis Kelce's future

By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated Dec 28, 2025 4:23 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a disappointing season, and there has been a great deal of speculation that it could be Travis Kelce's last in the NFL. A new report suggests the star tight end is genuinely undecided about his future.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media said on Sunday that Kelce is planning to take some time in the coming weeks to determine whether he wants to continue his NFL career in 2026.

"It certainly is a possibility -- I say possibility -- that Travis Kelce has played his last game at Arrowhead this past week," Rapoport said. "He's gonna take some time after the season is over to consider his fate and see what he wants to do and whether or not he wants to play a 14th season."

If Kelce were to decide to play next season, Rapoport says it would only be for the Chiefs.

"My understanding is if he was going to play, it wouldn't be for anyone else besides the Chiefs," the reporter added.

From @NFLGameDay Morning: The #Ravens found a formula with their win over the #Packers and now they have hope; Meanwhile, #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce will mull his future once the offseason arrives. pic.twitter.com/QGVkGDJ1GF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 28, 2025

Travis Kelce has not directly addressed his future

The Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in over a decade. They hosted the Denver Broncos on Thursday night in their final home game of the 2025 season, which means Kelce may have played his last game at Arrowhead Stadium.

When asked about his future following Kansas City's 20-13 loss, Kelce said he is still focused on trying to win games this season. He told reporters he will make a decision on retirement "when the time comes."

Kelce made the Pro Bowl this season for the 11th consecutive year. Though he is no longer the type of game-changer he was during his prime, he has continued to play at a high level. He has 73 catches for 839 yards and five touchdowns on the season.

Patrick Mahomes will need to work hard to be cleared for the start of next season after he recently suffered a torn ACL, so there are plenty of questions surrounding the Chiefs. Whether they will have their 36-year-old tight end back in 2026 is one of the biggest.

Steve DelVecchio

Steve is a veteran writer who has covered a variety of sports and pop culture topics for more than 15 years. In addition to Yardbarker, his work has been featured on prominent digital publications including Larry Brown Sports, MSN and FOX Sports. The UConn graduate has published more than 40,000 stories and is one of the most experienced trending news writers in the country

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