Travis Kelce: Kansas City Chiefs tight end set to play 14th season in NFL despite retirement rumours

Travis Kelce is back for more. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is expected to stay at Arrowhead for a 14th season despite retirement talks, NFL Network reported on Monday.

Kelce has won three Super Bowl rings during his 13 campaigns with the team as one of the leading faces of Andy Reid's Chiefs dynasty alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The 36-year-old helped Kansas City reach the Super Bowl in five of six seasons from 2019-2024 while breaking NFL records in postseason receptions, Super Bowl receptions and postseason touchdown catches by a tight end.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Kelce will turn down the offer of more money from other teams during free agency in order to stay with the Chiefs.

It was later announced on Monday that the Chiefs are signing Super Bowl MVP-winning running back Kenneth Walker III on a three-year $45m deal, bolstering their offense in view of Patrick Mahomes' return from a knee injury next season.

Kelce had seemingly been pondering retirement in the wake of a disappointing season that saw his Chiefs miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Kelce finished the campaign with 76 catches for 851 yards through the air as Reid's offense stumbled to a 6-11 campaign while failing to win the AFC West for the first time since 2015.

Speaking at the NFL Combine, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said he was optimistic of Kelce's return.

"Travis is the best. He's an icon, and hopefully he comes back," Veach told media. "We'll just kind of let that process play out. It's not your typical 27-year-old, first time at free agency. Travis has done everything and has accomplished everything.

"He's about to get married. He's got a lot going on, so I don't think there's an element of us not trying to get something done, you need to have some sort of deadline or timeline, but at the same time he's Travis Kelce."

Kelce, a third-round pick for the Chiefs at the 2013 Draft, became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 13,000 receiving yards last season, doing so in a record time of just 192 games.

Besides serving as a staple of Kansas City's dominance and Mahomes' most trusted target, Kelce has also garnered global recognition away from the field in light of his relationship with pop sensation Taylor Swift.