Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce didn’t commit to playing in 2026 following the final game of the regular season. And while Kelce still hasn’t said anything definitive about his future, he strongly implied Wednesday he was suiting back up for another season with the Chiefs.
During his “New Heights” podcast Wednesday, Kelce said he was excited to see offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy “back in the building.”
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Kelce’s full response read:
“I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man. He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time, one of my favorite people of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player, as a person. I just love the guy. It’s gonna be awesome to see him back in the building and see him back wearing the Chiefs’ logo, baby.”
After spending a few seasons coaching elsewhere, Bieniemy returned to the Chiefs in January, replacing Matt Nagy as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. Bieniemy also held that role between 2018 and 2022.
Ahead of the 2023 NFL season, Bieniemy joined the Washington Commanders as the team’s offensive coordinator under Ron Rivera. But Bieniemy was not retained after Rivera was fired at the end of the season. Bieniemy spent 2024 as UCLA’s offensive coordinator before serving as the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach in 2025.
Kelce, meanwhile, turned in yet another solid season in 2025. The 36-year-old hauled in 76 passes for 851 yards and five touchdowns, making yet another Pro Bowl. Given Kelce’s age, and the fact that Patrick Mahomes could miss the beginning of the 2026 season after tearing his ACL in December, there was some concern Kelce could walk away from football.
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That could still technically be the case following Kelce’s comments. The tight end doesn’t need to be a player to see Bieniemy in the Chiefs’ building. And if Kelce does retire, there’s nothing stopping him from visiting the team or taking on some other role with the franchise. So, there is some wiggle room in Kelce’s statement.
But … his comments Wednesday certainly make it sound like he is playing at least one more season. The Chiefs will need a veteran to step up on offense if Mahomes misses time, and there’s no better candidate than Kelce, who could add to his legacy by keeping the team afloat if Mahomes is out.
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