Earlier this week Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach made headlines when he suggested Travis Kelce would be back with the team for the 2025 season. “I’m not sure how coach answered that – how we left it at the end of the season is that he was fired up,” Veach said. “He has one more year under contract and still think he has that fire and desire to play. As far as I’m concerned, there is no deadline. I think we left it at he’d be back and we’re excited to get him back and get him going.”

His comments from the NFL combine sent a more definitive picture of Kelce’s plans than the tight end offered after the 2024 season came to a close with a crushing 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. On his podcast, “New Heights” after the Super Bowl, Kelce admitted he was considering retirement – but made it clear he’d wait to make an official decision. “I know everybody wants to know whether I am playing next year and right now I am just kicking everything down the road. I am kicking every can I can down the road,” Kelce said at the time.

“I am not making any crazy decisions but right now, the biggest thing is just being there for my teammates and being there for my coaches understanding there’s a lot that goes into this thing. I’ve been fortunate over the past five, six years, I’ve played more football than anybody.”

With Veach’s comment pointing to Kelce’s return, the Chiefs appear to have made an $11.5 million decision. The future Hall of Fame tight end is scheduled to land an $11.5 million roster bonus on March 14. He’s scheduled to make $4.5 million in base salary during the 2025 season – if he plays.