Sportsnaut
Travis Kelce has repeatedly avoided making any firm commitments about how much longer he plans to play, but a new retirement hint has fans wondering if the end of his legendary NFL career could be near. Fresh comments from someone close to the Kansas City Chiefs star have sparked new speculation ahead of the 2026 NFL season. This has raised questions about whether Kelce is preparing for one final run before calling it a career.
Kelce considered retirement after the 2025-26 NFL season, but chose a return to the Chiefs instead. The 36-year-old star tight end played at a high level last year, catching 76 passes for 851 yards and five touchdowns. However, someone close to Kelce has sparked speculation that it could be his last season in the NFL.
Cris Carter, Florida Atlantic football’s director of player development, shared a photo from Kelce’s offseason workouts in Florida. The pictures weren’t the clue itself, as Carter’s caption signaled the possibility of Kelce’s last year playing football.
“Andrew and I started with [Travis Kelce] before his rookie year in the NFL,” Carter wrote. “Know the [GOAT] is preparing for THE LAST DANCE. Next stop Canton/HOF.”
After agreeing to a deal in the offseason, Kelce will enter his 14th NFL season in 2026 with Kansas City. The 36-year-old superstar faced months of questions and speculation before committing to another season. Now, Carter’s Instagram post has put Kelce’s retirement plans firmly back in the spotlight.
When Kelce announced that he would return to Kansas City, there weren’t any guarantees on how long he would continue playing football. Naturally, the expectation was that Kelce wouldn’t play much longer at 36 years old. However, Carter’s post could signal the Chiefs tight end’s farewell season.
Kansas City doesn’t have a long-term replacement at tight end, but that is a concern for another season. Patrick Mahomes is coming off a torn ACL in December 2025 while the Chiefs hope to make another run to the Super Bowl. After all, this could be Kelce’s final opportunity at winning another Lombardi Trophy.
The organization signed Kenneth Walker from the Seattle Seahawks to help that push to the Super Bowl. Despite Kelce playing at a high level, Kansas City’s offense really struggled with no running game. Now, Walker will help the offense’s identity moving forward with Kelce, Rashee Rice, and Xavier Worthy back in the fold.
For now, Kelce hasn’t commented on Carter’s post, but it certainly points to this being his last NFL season. In early July, Kelce married Taylor Swift, as the next phase of his life begins to take shape. Before transitioning to a post-NFL life, Kelce wants to win one more Super Bowl with Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Nothing is official, but Kelce could be retiring from the NFL after the 2026-27 NFL season. If the 36-year-old star knows his plans,...
