Is Travis Kelce Retiring: Odds Predict Chiefs Tight End Won’t Run Off with Taylor Swift

The Kansas City Chiefs dynasty doesn’t look the same way it did just a year ago, and that could be cemented if Travis Kelce decides to retire.

The 36-year-old and former third-round pick of the Chiefs already accomplished nearly everything he could have in the NFL. With Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending knee injury suffered in Week 15 putting his status for next season in jeopardy, there’s speculation that #87 could hang up his cleats.

But despite the murmurs, the odds are still against Travis Kelce retiring.

Is Travis Kelce Going to Retire?

According to prediction platform Kalshi, there’s only a 38 percent chance that Travis Kelce will announce his retirement before next season. That’s down a considerable amount from the 61 percent chance he was given one month ago.

Kelce, who will turn 37 a month into the 2026 NFL season, finished his last campaign with 76 receptions, 851 yards, and five touchdowns. Those marks ranked third-lowest, season-fewest, and tied for the third-fewest in his 12-year career.

This was also the first time since Kelce’s rookie season in 2014 that the Chiefs did not make the playoffs. Beyond that, it was the first time since 2018 that he was not part of a team that at least made it to the AFC Championship Game, if not the Super Bowl.

Kelce ranks 23rd in all-time receiving yards and tied for 31st in receiving touchdowns among all players. He’s also third in yards and fifth in touchdowns at the position.

His postseason resume is even more impressive. He’s second in all-time receiving yards (2,078), only trailing Jerry Rice (by 167 yards), and is 636 yards clear of third-place Julian Edelman, in addition to being second in touchdowns (22), two behind Rice and five ahead of third-place Rob Gronkowski.

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Kelce Could Return to the Chiefs

A well-known fact about Kelce’s wife, international megastar Taylor Swift, is that her favorite number is 13. Coincidental or not, that would be the number of seasons that Kelce would have played if he returned for the 2026 season.

The big tight end just finished the second year of a two-year deal he signed in 2024, which netted him $34.3 million. He’s an unrestricted free agent and would need to agree to a new deal before he could return to the field.

Kelce previously said that he hoped to deliver a decision to the Chiefs before the free agency window opens on March 11.

“I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity, whether I come back or not - or whether they want me back or not,” the star tight end said to reporters on Nov. 21, per ESPN. “I'd like to make that decision before they've got to get draft picks and free agency opens to fill the roster appropriately.”

He still has time, but the deadline is approaching.

Will the Chiefs Draft a Tight End?

Losing Kelce to retirement would be a huge blow to the Chiefs for multiple reasons. Not only is he a leader and a familiar face, but his consistency has helped paper over underperforming first-round pick Xavier Worthy, the multiple absences of Rashee Rice, and one of the league’s least explosive running games.

There are multiple high-profile tight ends who are set to become free agents in the spring, including Kyle Pitts, Chig Okonkwo, David Njoku, Isaiah Likely, and Dallas Goedert. 

Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is also expected to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft, while Vanderbilt’s Elio Stowers, Ohio State’s Max Klare, Texas’ Jack Endries, and Baylor’s Michael Trigg have also generated lots of buzz.

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