Arrowhead Report

With Caveat, Chiefs Get Good News In Latest Travis Kelce Update

The Kansas City Chiefs would do cartwheels if Travis Kelce returns for Year 14.
Super Bowl 57: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes passes the the Lombardi Trophy to Travis Kelce after winning the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on Feb 12, 2023.
Super Bowl 57: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes passes the the Lombardi Trophy to Travis Kelce after winning the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on Feb 12, 2023. | Michael Chow / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Since the sunset of his 13th NFL season on Jan. 4, Travis Kelce hasn’t had a lot of time to get in shape for Year 14.

But according to insider Dianna Russini, after attending Sunday’s Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium, he might be back in the gym preparing for much more than fitting into his tuxedo.

travis kelc
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce reacts after making a birdie on the 16th hole during the Annexus Pro-Am at the WM Phoenix Open on Feb. 4, 2026, at TPC Scottsdale. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“Kelce was seen bouncing around San Francisco parties and events,” Russini wrote Saturday morning in a story published on The Athletic, “even as the soon-to-be-married man’s next move remains uncertain. While retirement has been discussed, many close to him believe he could return for at least one more season. A final decision has yet to be made, but a 14th season is looking more real than ever.”

That decision could come to fruition Sunday – four months before his June wedding with Taylor Swift -- when Kelce watches the Super Bowl as a fan, the first time in four years he’s not playing in the game.

travis kelc
Jan 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) leaves the field after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Super Bowl excitement playing factor?

Could a thrilling Super Bowl provide enough juice to push him over the return-to-play threshold? He’ll at least get a great look at two stellar defenses the Chiefs are scheduled to play in 2026, Seattle and New England.

His bouncing around this week began by taping his New Heights podcast with special guest Julian Edelman, like himself a three-time Super Bowl champion. Edelman earned Super Bowl MVP honors in the Patriots’ last appearance seven years ago.

julian edelma
Feb 4, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman holds the Pete Rozelle most valuable player trophy during Super Bowl LIII winning team press conference at Georgia World Congress Center. The Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 to win an NFL record-tying sixth championship Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

What Edelman, 2026 Chiefs share in common

Incidentally, Edelman’s New England position coach, Chad O’Shea, has reportedly joined Andy Reid’s staff to replace Connor Embree as Chiefs wide receivers coach. Talking to Edelman, Kelce said, helped him understand the finality of a season’s ending – and the finality of retiring from the game and never catching a pass again from Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes.

“And I kind of got the first like, step back, this year when Pat went down,” Kelce told his sister-in-law on this week’s edition of the Not Gonna Lie podcast, “and we lost the last however many games. And I got to kind of cope with it in that moment, and still be in the building with Coach Reid and the guys that I love in Kansas City, try and make it the best scenario possible as the year ended there.

kelce, belichic
Dec 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) on the field after the game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

“And then I have taken a step back and really, like, looked around and like, ‘Man, this run has been crazy,’ and it feels weird not to be doing anything right now.”

Kelce said Edelman still grows his beard out after every football season, even in retirement.

edelma
Oct 5, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) catches a pass against Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during the fourth quarter of a NFL game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

“And I'm just like, ‘Man, I feel exactly what you're saying,’ especially after a long season like that. … But you just, you stop caring about how you look, because you're just going into the building doing the same thing every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. And you just, you get into this mode of like, I'm beat up, but I f---ing love this. And I want to keep going.

“It gets to that point where now I'm like, watching it and, yeah, it stings. It stings especially because I felt like this year's team, in a lot of ways, was better than last year's team. And last year's team, we only lost two games. It was insane.”

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Zak Gilbert
ZAK GILBERT

Since his freshman year at the University of Colorado, Zak Gilbert has worked 30 years in sports, including 18 NFL seasons. He's spent time with four NFL teams, serving as head of communications for both the Raiders and Browns. A veteran of nine Super Bowls, he most recently worked six seasons in the NFL's New York league office. He now serves as the Kansas City Chiefs Beat Writer On SI

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