One of the biggest unresolved storylines in the NFL remains what veteran tight end Travis Kelce plans to do as he contemplates retirement after 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kelce has made it clear he intends to take a few weeks — possibly up to a month — to decide his future. However, the Chiefs’ recent hire of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who previously held the role for several seasons before departing in 2023, may have hinted at Kelce’s decision while speaking with reporters on Wednesday.
Kelce is set to enter unrestricted free agency, meaning he would need to negotiate a new contract if he hopes to return to Kansas City.
Still, Bieniemy — whom Kelce has spoken highly of in the past — revealed that he has already had “small, minimal conversations” with both Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Bieniemy added that he’s looking forward to the “excitement of reuniting” and “getting back in the grind and chopping wood with them.”
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While this doesn’t necessarily mean Kelce is returning, it certainly sounds like Bieniemy is operating under the assumption that he’ll be back in the building in 2026, after the Chiefs finished 6–11 this past season and missed the postseason for the first time in a decade.
For Kelce, some of the best years of his career came when Bieniemy served as the offensive coordinator. Once news broke that Bieniemy was returning to the role, Kelce made it clear just how excited he was about the reunion.
“I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man,” Kelce said. “He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time — one of my favorite people of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable growth moments under him as a player and as a person, and I just love the guy.
“It’s going to be awesome to see him back in the building and wearing the Chiefs logo again, baby.”
Kelce is coming off a productive year, despite his numbers not resembling what they once were three or four seasons ago, he still managed to haul in 76 receptions, 851 yards, and five touchdowns. So he certainly has some left in the tank if he chooses to continue playing.
The question more so, does he still have the interest in playing, does he feel like his body can make it through a 17 game season and then potentially the playoffs, and if the Chiefs can simply get back into contention, while Mahomes continues to rehab a major knee injury.
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