Pat McAfee: It felt like Travis Kelce was going to come back (1:55)Pat McAfee reacts to Travis Kelce’s decision to return to the Chiefs. (1:55)
Nate TaylorMar 9, 2026, 11:45 AM ETMultiple Authors
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Kelce, one of the NFL’s most illustrious tight ends and a three-time champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, has agreed to return for a 14th season with the team, a source told ESPN on Monday.
The deal is worth $12 million and carries a maximum value of $15 million, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Two weeks ago, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach acknowledged that the team was hopeful that Kelce would return for another season, one that could be the last in his distinguished career.
“Travis is the best,” Veach said at the NFL combine. “He’s an icon, and hopefully he comes back. We’ll just kind of let that process play out. It’s not your typical 27-year-old [and] first time at free agency. Travis has done everything and has accomplished everything.
The details of Kelce’s contract are still unknown, but he could return for a one-year deal or a two-year deal to help give the Chiefs more flexibility with their salary cap.
Last month, Reid smiled when he shared a positive update on Kelce’s status, indicating that the Chiefs’ longest-tenured player was preparing for another season.
“There is communication,” Reid said of Kelce. “That’s the main thing. I’ve said this before: As long as there’s communication, I’m good. That means people want to move forward.”
Even at age 36, Kelce still led the Chiefs last season in targets (108), receptions (76), yards (851), touchdowns (five) and receiving first downs (45).
Before last season, Kelce rededicated himself by having training sessions that were designed to improve his quickness and recapture some of the speed and agility he lost during the previous two years. The improved athleticism led Kelce to once again create yards after the catch, leading the Chiefs in that category (424).
He finished last season by becoming the third tight end in NFL history to record at least 13,000 career receiving yards, doing so in just 192 games, the fastest to such an achievement. Kelce also became the second player in league history to record 75 receptions for 10 consecutive seasons, joining Hall of Fame receiver Tim Brown.
The Chiefs originally selected Kelce with the 63rd pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the same year Reid joined the team.
Pat McAfee: It felt like Travis Kelce was going to come back (1:55)Pat McAfee reacts to Travis Kelce’s decision to return to the Chiefs. (1:55)
Pat McAfee reacts to Travis Kelce’s decision to return to the Chiefs. (1:55)
Nate TaylorMar 9, 2026, 11:45 AM ETMultiple Authors