Taylor Swift’s lucky number is 13. Travis Kelce, however, is counting on the number 14 to hold good fortune.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has agreed to a one-year deal worth $12 million to return to the team for his 14th NFL season in 2026, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, staving off retirement for at least another year.
Since announcing that he would play the 2025 season, Kelce had offered scant details about his long-term plans. He left things open-ended after the Chiefs finished 6-11, the worst mark of his career.
‘Either (the decision) hits me quick or I’ve got to take some time,’ Kelce said on Jan. 4 after a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. ‘Last year was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away I wanted to kind of give this one (year) a shot. We’ll see.’
Kelce, 36, had previously stated his intent to commit one way or another in advance of free agency so as to allow Kansas City sufficient time to make plans.
Now, on the day that the league’s negotiating period begins and with his wedding to Swift still ahead, the 11-time Pro Bowl selection is back for another go, though a new contract will be required from a Chiefs team already facing a cap crunch. In 2025, Kelce played out the final year of his two-year, $34.25 million extension.
What does Travis Kelce’s return mean for Chiefs’ 2026 season?
With Kelce back in the fold, Kansas City is counting on yet another familiar figure to help push the team back to the top of the AFC power structure.
In January, the team hired Eric Bieniemy for a second stint as offensive coordinator, with the former Chicago Bears running backs coach stepping back into the role he held from 2018-22. During that span, Kansas City twice ranked first in scoring and total yards, never finishing worse than sixth in either category. Since then, the Chiefs have not ranked better than 15th in scoring.
Last year’s unit posted the worst scoring average (21.3 points per game) of any Kansas City offense since Patrick Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback in 2018. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy did not return to the organization, instead taking a play-calling role with the New York Giants after his contract expired and the team moved on to Bieniemy.
Speaking prior to his announcement to return, Kelce lauded the hire in a manner that led some to believe he would be back to play a part in the reunion.
‘I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man,’ Kelce said in a late January episode of his ‘New Heights’ podcast. ‘He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time, one of my favorite people of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player, as a person, and I just love the guy.’
Kelce adds a critical level of security for a Chiefs passing attack that could be in flux as Mahomes works his way back from multiple torn knee ligaments suffered in mid-December.
Though he posted the fewest yards per game (50.1) of any season since his injury-shortened rookie year, Kelce still led the Chiefs in receiving yards (851), receptions (76) and yards after the catch (424).