Retire or continue a stellar career? What Travis Kelce's saying about his future.

Blair Kerkhoff, The Kansas City Star on Nov 21, 2025

Published in Football

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Kelce is on pace for his first 1,000-yard receiving season since 2022. His catch percentage and yards per target are well above his career averages.

At 36 and in the final year of a two-year contract with the only team for which he’s played, the Kansas City Chiefs, Kelce is likely in the twilight of his career. But his elevated level of play this season has raised speculation about his future.

Could Kelce prolong his pro football career?

He wouldn’t say Friday, two days before the Chiefs play host to the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC showdown. But he offered that whatever decision he eventually makes about his future, the organization will know before shaping next year’s roster.

“The season kind of restarts in April,” Kelce said. “And I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity to (know) whether I come back or not and vice versa — whether they want me back.

“It’s one of those things where I’d like to make that decision before they get to draft picks and free agency opens. It gives them an opportunity to go out there and fill the roster appropriately.”

But, Kelce said, nothing about his future will be considered until after the season, which has been an unusual one for the team’s longest-tenured player. The Chiefs, riding a two-game losing streak, are 5-5 and outside the playoff picture at the moment.

Kelce has been part of playoff teams in all but one of his 12 seasons with the Chiefs. His 10 straight trips to the NFL postseason have produced an astounding five Super Bowls and seven consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances.

Now, the Chiefs are battling for their postseason lives.

“Adversity hits you in different ways every single year,” Kelce said. “The ups and downs of the season kind of molds you as a group.

“You’ve got to make sure you’re coming into the building with the right mindset and if losses do pile up on you, man, you’ve got to have a sense of urgency.”

In last weekend’s loss at Denver, Kelce caught a touchdown pass to give him four for the season and make him the franchise’s career TD leader, with 84. He surpassed former star running back Priest Holmes in that department.

Kelce leads the Chiefs this season with 50 receptions and 631 yards. And that improved production is by design. Kelce came into the year in better shape than the previous season.

The 2024 offseason was a whirlwind, his first while dating musical icon Taylor Swift, who is now his fiancee.

“Every year’s different, and you have to attack it differently,” Kelce said. “I think in terms of athleticism and where I feel in terms of health right now, I feel like the offseason definitely helped me at least get a head start on some of the wear and tear.

“So it’s just the body feels better, but production-wise, our offense in general is having a better season than it had last season.”

But there’s plenty of work remaining if the Chiefs are going to become a playoff team. Typically, at this time of the year, the Chiefs are thinking about their seeding and what it will take to become the AFC’s top team and receive a bye.

Kelce said the Chiefs are up to the challenge.

“I’m fighting, man,” he said. “ And I think right now it’s a different season than we’ve had. With that being said, every day is a new challenge, and I love that opportunity.”