Travis KelceThe “New Heights” podcast has announced his return to the Kansas City Chiefs for his 14th season in the NFL.
After months of speculation, the podcast revealed on Instagram on Monday, March 9, that the tight end, 36, “will be returning to the Chiefs for the 14th year.”
“New Heights” shared a parody of a John Wick scene with an animated version of Kelce quoting the action movie, saying, “People keep asking if I’m back and I haven’t gotten an answer yet. But now, yeah, I guess I’m back!”
Inside NFL Ian Rapoport was the first to report the news on Monday, March 9. Kelce was set to become a free agent and has received interest from other teams.
Kelce has played for the Chiefs since the team drafted him in 2013, and won three Super Bowls in 2020, 2023 and 2024. He has a contract with the Chiefs for the 2025-2026 NFL season, which has sparked speculation that he may retire this year. Although Kelce and his teammates hope to get another Super Bowl title this year, the Chiefs had a disappointing season, failing to enter for the first time since 2014 and losing again. Patrick Mahomes from a knee injury in December 2025 before the end of the regular season.
In November 2025, Travis shared an update on his retirement plans, telling reporters that he looked to the example set by his older brother, Jason Kelcewhen considering his decision. (Jason, 38, announced he will retire from the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2024 after 13 seasons.)
“You know, seeing my brother go through it and seeing … how the league works, the season will start again in April, and I want to give the Chiefs a good chance to know if I’m coming back or not,” he explained at the time. On the contrary. Like, whether they want me or not, it’s one of those things where I like to make that decision before they get the picks and open free.
He added, “That will all be at the end of the season. I won’t think about it until then.
Meanwhile, Jason shared some sage advice for his younger brother as Travis debated retirement.
“In my opinion, to make that decision, you have to separate yourself from the game a little bit,” he said on ESPN’s. Monday Night Countdown in December 2025. “Play these last three games, enjoy it with your teammates, enjoy it with your coaches. The team will be different whether you come back or not next year.”
Jason also emphasized the importance of Travis working through his feelings about the Chiefs’ difficult season before making a big decision about his NFL future.
“Enjoy these last three games and let it sink in. It will come to you later,” he stressed. “There are a lot of emotions about this game after the season, especially the way it was.”
“They were close, and now it’s new,” Jason added. “You have to get away from it, you have to think about it, and then, yes, it will come to you.”
Before the 2025-2026 NFL season officially begins, Travis took the next step in his relationship with. Taylor Swift with an engagement in August 2025. Since then, the couple – who have been dating since the summer of 2023 – began planning the wedding.
“Both of them [very] involved, and Taylor thinks it’s good that Travis wants to help,” the source said Us Weekly in October 2025.
As they look ahead to their future, Travis and Swift, 36, know they “don’t want to be engaged for the long haul,” the insider said, revealing that the pair “really want to start a family in the next year or so.”
