Reporter pours cold water on stunning Chiefs, Travis Kelce update

Kansas City, MO — A weekend of breathless speculation about Travis Kelce’s future ended with a firm splash of cold water late Sunday, as Associated Press reporter Rob Maaddi contradicted an earlier report that the Chiefs’ perennial All-Pro tight end could finish his career in another uniform.

On Sunday morning, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Jesse Newell startled the NFL world by writing that Kelce “is expected to return to play for a 14th season this year” but “may feature for a team other than the Chiefs for the first time in his pro career.” The phrasing opened the possibility that the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer would test the open market for the first time since Kansas City selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft.

Less than 12 hours later, Maaddi posted a blunt rebuttal on X: “Reported this at the combine … A person with knowledge of Kelce’s thinking told The Associated Press the four-time All-Pro tight end will not test the market. If the 36-year-old Kelce returns for a 14th season, it’ll be in Kansas City with coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.”

The conflicting narratives arrive at a pivotal moment. Monday at noon ET marks the opening of the league’s “legal tampering” window, when agents may begin fielding calls from rival clubs. Kelce, whose current deal is set to expire, is technically free to speak with other teams if no extension is reached. Yet Maaddi’s source insists those conversations will never happen.

Chiefs brass have spent the offseason publicly courting their veteran standout. Owner Clark Hunt said in January he wants Kelce “to return and spend another season with the club,” while general manager Brett Veach told reporters weeks later that the two sides “are going to continue to have positive dialogue and see where this thing ends.”

Still, no agreement has been struck. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio noted Sunday that the standoff could hinge on dollars rather than geography: “The truth could be as simple as this — the Chiefs’ current offer falls below Kelce’s expectations. If it doesn’t improve, Kelce could (in theory) see what else is out there. For now, the notion that his agents will listen to other teams could be nothing more than an effort to shake more cash from the Kansas City tree.”

Florio added that, as of late Sunday, “there has been no indication that another team plans to aggressively pursue [Kelce] once the negotiating window opens.” Kelce himself has issued no public guarantee that he will remain a Chief for life, leaving room for maneuvering even if Maaddi’s source proves correct.

Any suitor would be acquiring a player who, according to ESPN data, led the 2025 Chiefs with 76 receptions, 108 targets and 851 receiving yards, adding five touchdowns across 17 games. Whether those numbers are enough to entice a contender — or simply to motivate Kansas City to sweeten its offer — should become clearer once Monday’s negotiating period begins.

For now, the storyline has shifted from “Where might Kelce land?” to “Will the Chiefs pay to keep him?” The answer figures to arrive quickly; franchise legends rarely linger long on the open market, even ones who have never worn another NFL logo.