ESPN Reveals If Travis Kelce Will Retire Or Play The Upcoming Season

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Travis Kelce is set to return to the Kansas City Chiefs next season, according to ESPN’s Pat McAfee.

While heavily implying that the three-time Super Bowl champion himself was his source, McAfee revealed he received a text message stating: “My dog!!! I’m coming back for sure.”

Pat McAfee, who knows Travis, said a source told him Travis will be returning to the Chiefs. He made a post on X.

“I reached out to source(s) on the future of @tkelce..

Source(s) said I’M COMING BACK FOR SURE..

I’m gonna get in the best shape of my life this offseason..

I’ve got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and I can’t go out like that!!!! #PMSLive”

 

Kelce recorded just four receptions in the Chiefs’ blowout Super Bowl loss to the Eagles and dropped two passes. However, Chiefs GM Brett Veach later revealed that the tight end had been battling an illness in the days leading up to the game.

Following the defeat, the 35-year-old was uncertain about his future, stating on his New Heights podcast that he needed “some time to figure it out.”

Despite that, if Kelce remains on Kansas City’s roster by March 15, he will earn a $12.5 million roster bonus, per Spotrac and Daily Mail. That amount is in addition to the $4.5 million base salary he is set to receive in 2025.

If Kelce were to retire or be released, the Chiefs would free up $17 million.

Should he decide to hang up his cleats, he is expected to inform the team before his roster bonus takes effect. According to The Athletic, the Chiefs want clarity on Kelce’s future by March 14—just one day before the $12.5 million bonus is due.

That deadline also falls about five weeks before the NFL Draft, where Kansas City could explore drafting a tight end to develop behind him.

Despite a solid season, Kelce’s 823 receiving yards in 2024 ranked fifth among tight ends and marked his lowest total since his second year in the league in 2014 per Daily Mail.