The Kansas City Chiefs have only missed the playoffs once under Andy Reid. It could end up where K.C. is sitting at home during the postseason for the first time since 2014. They have not been officially eliminated from postseason contention yet. Though, it would take winning out and plenty of help somehow falling the Chiefs' way for them to get in the dance.
This has led many Kansas City fans to wonder about the future. Which draft prospects are already drawing attention? Are there specific free agents or cap casualties who could help reshape the roster? Obviously, not everyone currently on the team will be back for the 2026 season.
One player immediately stands out when considering his future: tight end Travis Kelce. He could easily be entering his final stretch of games in a Chiefs uniform. No one will likely know until the season concludes whether he has played his last down with Kansas City or in the NFL.
Retirement was something Kelce contemplated last year after the Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He made it known that if he chose to hang up his cleats before this season, he would inform the Chiefs by a certain date to help them plan accordingly.
Travis Kelce’s future in Kansas City is uncertain as the Chiefs face their first real playoff absence in a decade.
For now, people can only speculate on Kelce’s status, and that chatter will grow louder as winter goes on. If Kansas City misses the playoffs, the answer—retirement or one last ride in 2026—could come relatively quickly.
Even though Kelce’s future remains uncertain, a few things are clear. First, he is not signed beyond this season. The Chiefs gave him a well-earned pay raise for the final two years of his contract going into 2024, with cap hits of $19.5 million and $19.8 million. But he is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
We also know he will not play for any team other than Kansas City. Based on his past comments, it would be a shock to see Kelce don new colors.
Kelce is currently 36 years old and in his 13th NFL season. He will turn 37 next October. Despite all the discussion about his age, he still looks to be playing at the same speed he has shown in recent years. It has not been perfect every week, but his production remains strong for a tight end of his age.
There will also be numerous entertainment opportunities waiting for Kelce once he does retire. He has already appeared in television shows, movies, and on Saturday Night Live. Ultimately, his decision will come down to whether he wants to mentally push through another season.
If these are the last four games of his illustrious career, assuming the Chiefs miss the playoffs, Kelce would finish it in a place he has never lost. Kansas City heads to Las Vegas for the regular-season finale. The Chiefs have not only beaten the Raiders every time in that building since it opened, but Kelce also hoisted his third Super Bowl trophy there against the San Francisco 49ers.