Travis Kelce is weighing whether to return to the NFL after a disappointing 2025 season, and his decision could hinge as much on personal considerations as football.
Reports from The Daily Mail suggest the Kansas City Chiefs star is not ready to retire outright as the 36-year-old tight end, a three-time Super Bowl winner, finished the season as a free agent after the Chiefs went 6-11.
For the first time, they have missed the NFL Playoffs in Patrick Mahomes‘ era, and if Kelce stopped now, it would be a disappointing end to his career.
So there is the possibility he could come back, although he wants to make sure health remains paramount and he continues to progress his life away from Arrowhead Stadium.
“If he had to make a decision today, at this very moment, he’d come back,” a source told the Daily Mail. “But he will not know until a few weeks from now what he wants to do.
“It is still very fresh, and it hasn’t hit him officially on what he would like to do. He has to reason it with himself, talk to Taylor, his family. It is a process.”
Kelce is due to wed Swift in the summer of 2026, which is around the time training camp begins for the new NFL season.
This leaves limited room for training, the wedding ceremony, and a honeymoon period for the athlete and his billionaire popstar girlfriend.
And considering his legacy is safe in the bank and he proved he is still one of the better tight ends in the league with 851 yards and five touchdowns, he could walk away and hang up his cleats.
Kelce’s future and potential roster complications
Kelce offered insight after the Chiefs‘ Week 18 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, hinting at indecision as his future hits a crossroads.
“Either it hits me quick or I’ve got to take some time,” Kelce said. “Last year was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away I wanted to kind of give this year a shot. We’ll see.
“I’m proud of the way we finished this, even though it ended the way it did. The guys still showed up and gave it their all. That’s all you can ask for, man.
“The ball just didn’t go our way in a lot of those close games, unfortunately. If I do choose to come back, that’s something I’ve really got to focus on, making sure I’m available and I’m ready for those moments.”
Kelce‘s potential comeback may face roster complications, particularly concerning wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is under investigation following domestic violence allegations posted on social media by an ex-girlfriend.
The NFL is reviewing the recent claims under its Personal Conduct Policy, which could affect Kelce‘s decision to return and the Chiefs‘ offensive plans by leaving Kansas City desperately shy of receivers for 2026.
Rice could be subject to a six-game suspension for the second season in a row, or potentially a harsher punishment after being convicted of felonies in 2024 for causing a road traffic collision and fleeing the scene.
Dacoda Nichole Jones, Rashee Rice‘s former partner, publicly accused him of years of abuse and neglect, claiming he failed to provide support for her and their children after their breakup.
She stated that he tried to evict her and her kids, leaving her to manage relocation and finances alone, and criticized him for projecting a false image of responsibility while contributing minimally to their well-being.
“I’ve dealt with abuse for years, me and this man decided to break up a couple months ago and it’s been nothing but hell,” Jones said.
The Chiefs are aware of the claims and have declined to comment further after establishing they are in communication with the NFL.
Rice is yet to comment, but no criminal or civil charges have been filed by Jones as of 09:00 ET/06:00 PT on January 9. The player caught 53 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns this 2025 season and helped the Chiefs win the 2024 Super Bowl.
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