Patrick Mahomes Seemingly Confirms Travis Kelce’s Return to Chiefs

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It seemsTravis Kelce decided all he had to do was stay.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has strongly suggested that Travis Kelce will play for the team in the 2026-2027 NFL season, indicating he won’t be retiring beforehand.

Following news that Travis was planning to play football for another year, his teammate shared a photo of them on the field to Instagram on March 9th. The caption included a clock and a bow and arrow emoji, hinting at the Kansas City Chiefs and their stadium, Arrowhead.

Patrick’s wife, Brittany Mahomes, who shares three children with him – Sterling, 4, Bronze, 3, and Golden, 13 months – also responded to the news. She reposted Patrick’s announcement on her Instagram Stories, along with a video from the NFL confirming Travis Kelce will return for his 14th season, adding the message, “He’s not done yet.”

Travis hasn’t spoken publicly about the news yet, but he’d previously said he was unsure whether to retire after 13 seasons or play for another year.

He admitted it was a difficult way to end his career, particularly given how much he’d achieved and the high expectations he’d set for himself. He told his brother, Jason Kelce, on their New Heights podcast in January that he was taking a few weeks, possibly a month, to relax and decide what his future held in football.

Travis, who is getting ready for his wedding to Taylor Swift, said figuring out retirement is challenging.

He said he’d immediately commit if his body recovered enough to play for another 18 to 21 weeks, and he felt confident he could do it.

You know, life is a journey, and I’m right there with everyone else, navigating it as best I can. For me, that means leaning on the people I love – family and close friends – to help me sort things out and find my way. It’s all about figuring things out together.

He’d thought a lot about retiring from football, but he also knew he’d miss many things, especially playing with his teammates and feeling the energy of the Chiefs fans.

In a recent podcast interview in March, Travis shared that those clutch moments – performing well under pressure in important games and during the playoffs – are something he knows he’ll never experience again. He fondly remembered those times and expressed how unique they were.

To learn more about Travis’s journey in the NFL and what made him a football icon, continue reading.

Although Travis Kelce is now famously associated with Kansas City, Missouri, he actually spent his childhood growing up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

During game broadcasts, when players are introduced, this man proudly announces his hometown rather than his college, the University of Cincinnati.

Which, as you might guess, has irked some fellow alums. 

Travis Kelce explained that while he deeply values his time at the University of Cincinnati, it wasn’t always easy. Speaking at his Cleveland Heights High School Hall of Fame induction in 2019, alongside his brother Jason Kelce, he admitted he faced challenges, including losing his scholarship due to some poor decisions. He jokingly acknowledged that he was ‘that guy’ who made mistakes, something many in the room likely knew about from their own experiences with people from Heights.

He explained that Cleveland Heights wasn’t just meaningful to him personally, but to everyone in the community. He highlighted the city’s diversity and how it inspires him. He emphasized that everything he does is motivated by his love for Cleveland Heights, and even his celebrations—like dancing after scoring—are a tribute to the city and its people.

2. About that revoked scholarship…

Following Cincinnati’s perfect 2009 season and Big East championship, Travis tested positive for marijuana before the 2010 Sugar Bowl. This happened after he partied excessively on New Year’s Eve while in New Orleans.

He didn’t just miss the bowl game; the NCAA suspended him for the entire 2010 season and he lost his athletic scholarship. This left him without housing or meals, so he moved in with his brother Jason—sharing a room with Jason and his teammates—and took a job as a telemarketer. His job involved calling people and asking for their opinions on the Affordable Care Act.

They did, and Travis could not wait to get back on the field.

Travis was a multi-sport athlete in high school, playing hockey, baseball, and basketball before focusing on football. He originally played quarterback and was a two-star recruit for Cincinnati, but switched to tight end after being suspended from the team – it was a requirement for him to rejoin the team.

When I was drafted by the Chiefs in 2013, we already had a great quarterback in Zach Collaros, but we needed to improve both our running and passing attacks. I spoke with my coach, Butch Jones, and he felt a tight end would be a good addition. Luckily, my abilities and athleticism fit what they were looking for, and it turned out to be a perfect fit for me, as I was able to contribute in multiple ways.

As he explained to GQ magazine in 2017, reflecting on a difficult experience, he’d always been told he was naturally suited to play tight end.

Oh my gosh, you would NOT believe the stories about the house at 127 W. Nixon St.! That’s where Travis lived with Jason and the other guys on the Bearcats team, and let me tell you, it was a total party house. Seriously, so much happened there, fueled by… well, let’s just say a LOT of beer. It was legendary, honestly – a constant stream of crazy, fun shenanigans!

According to college friend and teammate Tom DeTemple, the brothers would spend hours playing Nintendo 64, often combining it with drinking games. He told the New York Times before the 2024 Super Bowl that they’d invent spontaneous games while playing and were surprisingly skilled at them.

5. And suffice it to say, Travis is extremely proud of being a Bearcat.

Before the 2023 Super Bowl, the Chiefs player shared how much pride he has for his hometown and university. He explained that he recently earned his degree from the University of Cincinnati and enjoys supporting the school whenever possible, often returning to campus. He especially misses the camaraderie with his former teammates and the people who supported him throughout his life, both good and bad.

Even though the NCAA was investigating him, he said the players, coaches, and staff at the university believed in his ability to improve and succeed, which meant a lot to him then.

After nearly ten years away from school to pursue a career in football, Travis completed his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2022. He didn’t receive his diploma until April 2024, when he was surprised with a special graduation ceremony following a live taping of his podcast, New Heights, with Jason at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati.

As the graduate went to shake the dean’s hand in congratulations, he was already holding a beer and immediately drank it down.

And Travis was going to graduate in 2022 but he missed his flight.

Travis Kelce wasn’t one of the first tight ends drafted in 2013, largely because of some personal issues. He was actually the fifth, selected by the Chiefs in the third round. Once he joined the team, coach Andy Reid, who had previously worked with Travis’s brother Jason in Philadelphia, asked Jason to give him a positive recommendation.

Andy and Travis have three Super Bowl rings to show for Jason’s endorsement.

Travis used to listen to Randy Newman’s song “Burn On” before every game for years, although his pre-game music choices have since changed.

Growing up on the east side of Cleveland, this song always makes me reflect on my family and how grateful I am for where I am in life,” he explained on the 2017 NBC Sports podcast PFT Live.

Let us explain: It’s in the opening credits of Major League, the ultimate Cleveland sports movie.

9. Everyone, including Travis, is mispronouncing his last name.

I’ve noticed a lot of people, including Jason and others, have been pronouncing Travis Kelce’s name as ‘Kel-see,’ but I’ve always known it rhymes with ‘else’! It’s a little thing, but it’s always stuck with me.

I couldn’t believe it when Chris Jones let slip on Inside the NFL back in January – he said it was “absolutely crazy,” and honestly, it was! Then, Jason and Travis actually talked to their dad, Ed Kelce, about it on their New Heights podcast and confirmed the whole story. It was wild hearing it all come out like that!

Jason was confused. “Seriously, why did you change your name? And why did we all think it was ‘Kel-see’ for so long – 27 years for me, 25 for Trav?”

Ed admitted he “got tired of correcting people” but urged his son to “do whatever you want.”

Travis has worn the number 87 throughout his NFL career to honor his brother, Jason, who was born in 1987.

Travis Kelce shared with NFL Films that the story of his family’s NFL success – having both him and his brother Jason play professionally – began in 1987 with his own birth, just before the 2023 Super Bowl where his Chiefs faced Jason’s Eagles.

As someone who believes in giving back, I’ve always admired Travis Kelce’s commitment to the Kansas City community. His Eighty Seven & Running Foundation has been a wonderful supporter of Operation Breakthrough, a fantastic learning center for kids. I first learned about their partnership back in 2015 when Travis visited to read The Cat in the Hat – it’s amazing to see how that initial connection blossomed into a long-term relationship, making a real difference in the lives of these children.

Yes, reader, he wore the hat.

Since then, Travis has supported the program by funding its Smart Lab and purchasing the building next door. This allowed them to create the Ignition Lab, where students transformed old, discarded cars into functional electric vehicles.

Travis and Jason affectionately call their podcast listeners “92 percenters.” This nickname comes from a joke Jason made about the quarterback sneak play – he said it successfully gains the necessary yard for a touchdown about 92% of the time.

Listeners loved the podcast so much they started calling themselves the “92 percenters.” The podcast’s website described it as a shared inside joke, like a secret code among fans.

Who were the Kelce brothers to argue with that?

Travis Kelce works with three personal trainers – Alex Skacel, Andrew Spruill, and Laurence Justin Ng – and typically has one of them travel with him to help him stay in peak condition for football throughout the year, according to The Athletic.

Alex, a physical therapist, remembered Travis wanting to go for a run late at night after Paris Fashion Week. Travis had skipped his usual workout that day and felt the need to be active.

According to an interview with the New York Times in April, the trainer said they were doing sprint workouts on the bridges, even at midnight. He emphasized that no matter where they are, this athlete always makes time to complete his necessary training.

Travis has been friends with his personal chef, Kumar Ferguson, since they were kids growing up in Cleveland Heights.

In 2016, he was a truck driver who enjoyed cooking as a hobby when Travis contacted him with a job offer.

Kumar recalled that the person said, ‘I really want to commit to a healthy diet and make a big change.’ Kumar responded by saying he was on board immediately, and just a few days later, he found himself in Kansas City.

I’ve seen firsthand how much this guy does for Travis – seriously, everything! From making sure his fridge is always full to personally bringing healthy, complete lunches to the Chiefs’ practice, he handles it all. It’s incredible how dedicated he is.

Travis Kelce has been getting a lot of attention for his facial hair lately. He recently shared on his podcast, New Heights, that he shaved his beard after the season in 2023 but kept his mustache as a tribute to the look favored by his coach, Andy Reid. He decided to do the same thing in 2024.

In April 2024, Travis signed a two-year contract worth $34.25 million, making him the NFL’s highest-paid tight end – a first for his career.

Which finally put an end to years of chatter about how much money he wasn’t making.

In a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, Travis Kelce joked that his managers and agents frequently point out how much he deserves to be paid. He said whenever he brings up wanting a raise, they always tell him to ask the Kansas City Chiefs for more money.

By that point, he had so many other ways to earn money that he was more interested in enjoying his work than in how much it paid.

He said the idea of a free market seems appealing until you experience losing. He emphasized his enjoyment of success and expressed contentment with his current position.

It’s tough seeing other players earn so much money; it definitely makes you question things,” he said. “You start to wonder if you’re being fairly compensated, and whether pushing harder would actually result in getting what you deserve. But ultimately, I genuinely enjoy my job and going to work every day.

Travis developed a passion for clothing early on, growing up in Cleveland Heights. He described his high school as a daily fashion show in a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair.

He turned a bedroom into a walk-in closet to store his expensive clothes and impressive sneaker collection—over 300 pairs! He even splurged on a pair of size-13 Nike Air Mags with a large chunk of his first professional salary, even though they didn’t quite fit.

He told the Wall Street Journal that earlier in his career, before sneaker apps were common, he’d just buy whatever size of shoe he could find.

He’s a big fan of Nike, especially since they sponsor him, but he also loves Chuck Taylor sneakers. They remind him of the memorable baseball player Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez from the movie The Sandlot.

18. Among his dozens of investments, Travis co-owns Ohio-brewed Garage Beer with Jason.

As many of you know, I enjoy a good beer every now and then! So, I’m thrilled to be an owner of Garage Beer and really involved in crafting what I think will be the perfect light beer. Honestly, there’s nothing quite like sharing an ice-cold beer with the people you love – that’s what it’s all about for me and my partner Jason: bringing friends, family, and good times together.

19. We’re sensing a theme when it comes to Travis’ guilty pleasure TV choices.

He described the show Gossip Girl as “amazing” on the New Heights podcast. He explained it was a dramatic New York high school series where everyone was constantly gossiping and talking negatively about each other.

His new favorite show? Peacock’s Emmy-winning backstab-a-ganza The Traitors.

After 12 seasons in the NFL, 35-year-old Travis has recently been more vocal about the physical challenges of playing football.

He’s quietly endured a lot of hardship from the start of his career. It began when a knee injury – a small fracture – forced him to miss his first season, and it was the first of ten surgeries he’s undergone so far.

Travis Kelce recently shared on his podcast, New Heights, that he tried to give Taylor Swift a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it while she was performing in Kansas City, but wasn’t able to.

She heard through mutual connections that Travis wanted to meet her, and then she reached out to him.

He explained to WSJ. Magazine that she clearly explained the situation to him, and that he felt fortunate she contacted him.

Travis has always loved French toast, especially when it’s covered in whipped cream and syrup.

But more recently he’s become a fan of his girlfriend’s homemade Pop-Tarts and cinnamon rolls.

23. At least one of Travis’ ringtones is Chris Farley shrieking “For the love of God!” in Tommy Boy.

He told WSJ. Magazine that he wants to share his favorite comedians—like Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell—with Taylor. He explained, “I told her, ‘This is what I really love.’”

After the Chiefs won the AFC Championship in 2019, Travis Kelce shouted “You’ve got to fight for your right to party!” This led the team to begin playing the Beastie Boys’ song of the same name after every touchdown scored at home games in Arrowhead Stadium.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach described Travis Kelce as a huge boost to team morale, saying in 2020 that it’s difficult to overstate his impact. Kelce brings a special energy, charisma, and passion to the team, and has a knack for bringing others up with him. Everyone in the Chiefs organization considers Travis a friend, and he consistently lifts the spirits, focus, and attention of those around him, all while keeping things enjoyable.

The person who enthusiastically introduced the song to everyone surprisingly didn’t learn all the lyrics to the 1986 hit until he had to sing it with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in February 2023.

In May 2024, Travis revealed his top three Taylor Swift songs: “Blank Space,” “The Alchemy,” and “So High School.”

When asked about them a few months later, he gave a different response, saying, “I love them all—honestly, every single one.”

He publicly stated in August 2025 that his favorite song from The Life of a Show Girl is “Opalite.”

People began comparing Travis Kelce to Tony Gonzalez, the Chiefs’ all-time great tight end who retired in 2013 after 17 seasons, very early in Kelce’s career.

Back in 2015, as people began to speculate whether Travis would exceed Tony’s accomplishments—and how let down everyone would be if he didn’t—Travis claimed he ignored all the talk.

I’m my own toughest critic,” he said to Complex. “I’m aiming to have the best statistical season ever for a tight end.

In 2024, Travis became the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time leader in receptions, breaking the previous record with his 917th catch.

On the New Heights podcast, Travis shared how things often come back around. He pointed out that being a leader on the Kansas City Chiefs—a team with roots going back to the 1960s—feels special. He believes their continued success is thanks to their long history and players like Tony Gonzalez, who Travis considers a mentor and greatly admires.

27. Of Travis’ many accomplishments, keeping his house in order on his own isn’t one of them.

“He can’t clean,” mom Donna Kelce told Extra in September 2024. “He can’t cook.”

But perhaps hosting a special someone served as extra motivation to get it together.

“He’s getting a little better,” Donna acknowledged. “I think he’s getting some help.”

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2026-03-10 00:49