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The Kansas City Chiefs are getting a concerning outlook on the Travis Kelce retirement decision and bringing him back.

Travis Kelce is still contemplating his return to the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2026-27 season, and his mind isn’t made up yet. Of course, the Chiefs’ minds aren’t, either, and both sides have to come to terms on an agreement for him to come back.

Up until now, it’s appeared things were tipping to Kelce returning. The tight end has been candid about not wanting to leave on a sour note, and since the Chiefs didn’t make it to the playoffs in the 2025-26 season, that could edge him to return.

“I think I’m still searching for those answers,” Kelce said when asked about retirement before the Kansas City Chiefs’ Christmas game in an interview on Amazon’s Prime Video. “Obviously, the way this one ended with a sour taste in my mouth.”

Kelce added, “I feel motivated but I’ve got to make the right decision for me. I’ve got to hope that if I do wanna come back that the Chiefs are willing to bring me back. It’s a two-way street on that.” Now, it’s getting close to Kelce making that final decision.

Kansas City Chiefs Get Advice on Whether to Bring Travis Kelce Back

So, should the Kansas City Chiefs bring Kelce back? One NFL analyst thinks they shouldn’t do it.

Kelce clocked 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 76 catches in 2025, making him fourth for tight ends in yards and sixth in receptions. But, that wasn’t enough for this analyst.

ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum went to down on Kelce during an appearance on “Get Up” on Monday, February 23.

“I wouldn’t do it,” Tannenbaum said of bringing Kelce back. “When you’re in the front office, and you’re a head coach, you have to make the honest and sober observation that you want to pay a player for what they’re going to do, not what they’ve done.”

So, why should the Chiefs not bring him back? It’s because there are really solid tight ends in the 2026 NFL draft.

“There are some really good tight ends in the draft, like Kenyon Sadiq, Max Klare, and Michael Trigg, among others,” Tannenbaum said. “If I’m Kansas City, go get the next guy. Honor Travis Kelce for what he’s done, but go get the next young tight end and go take care of these other needs: tackle, running back and receiver.”

One reason to go with Kelce is because he adds a veteran presence to the team. Since Mahomes is still rehabbing from his ACL and LCL injury, having a vet on staff would be nothing but a good thing and comforting move.

Taylor Swift in the News Outside of Travis Kelce Relationship

Meanwhile, Kelce’s future wife Taylor Swift is still pushing her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” On Friday, February 20, Swift’s single off the album, “Opalite,” debuted on both the Official Physical Singles and Official Vinyl Singles charts.

That single, Swift explains, is a celebration of life. “When we go through something that doesn’t work out, we oftentimes look at it as this major setback, like we’ve taken a step back,” she said during an interview with Hits Radio. “But I’ve found that so many of those instances in my life can catapult you forward in growth, in wisdom, in perspective.”

Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson