Kelce open to return ‘if my body can heal up’

Don’t shut the door on Travis Kelce’s NFL career just yet.

The 11-time Pro Bowl tight end told his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles centre Jason Kelce, on the duo’s New Heights podcast that he’s open to returning to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 14th season if his body cooperates.

“If my body can heal up and rest up, and I can feel confident that I can go out there and give it another 18, 20, 21-week run,” the 37-year-old Kelce said in an episode recorded before the team’s final game against the Las Vegas Raiders last week. “I think I would do it in a heartbeat. I think right now it’s just finding that answer and seeing how the body feels after the [ Week 18] game.”

A native of Westlake, OH, Kelce appeared in all 17 games for the Chiefs this past season. He hauled in 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns. While his yardage total eclipsed his 2024 numbers, it was the third straight season in which he failed to reach the 1,000-yards mark following seven seasons in a row of accomplishing the feat.

Despite expressing his willingness to return, the Cincinnati product made it clear it wouldn’t be a quick decision.

“I think right now, it’s just finding that answer and seeing how the body feels after this game and kinda when it all settles down,” Kelce said.

A three-time Super Bowl winner, should Kelce return, he would enter the 2026 season trailing Chiefs legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez by 2,125 yards receiving for the all-time mark by a tight end. He would pass Dallas Cowboys legend Jason Witten for second-most yardage with 43 more yards.

For his career, Kelce has 1,080 receptions for 13,002 yards and 82 TDs in 192 games played.