Chiefs Owner Reveals What They’ve Told Travis Kelce About His Retirement Decision

NEED TO KNOW
Travis Kelce is welcome to play a 14th season with the Chiefs. the organization’s chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said on TuesdayThe star tight end has not yet announced whether he will retire or continue his NFL careerKelce had fans excited last week when he said it will be “awesome to see” new offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy “back in the building”

Clark Hunt is leaving the door open should Travis Kelce choose to pull back up at Arrowhead.

The Kansas City Chiefs owner shared his organization’s take on what’s to come next year — and he endorsed the tight end’s decision if he elects to play a 14th season.

“Well as an organization, we certainly hope that he will come back,” Hunt said in a guest spot on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Hunt added, “He had another great year, maybe not on par with where he was four or five years ago, but still had over 800 yards, and was really one of the leaders on the offensive side of the ball for us. So there’s no doubt in my mind that he can still play. We’re trying to be respectful and let him have the time that he needs to make a decision.”

Travis Kelce.

Ian Maule/Getty

Yet the Chiefs chairman and CEO also recognizes that Kelce has just a few off-the-field items to take care of this summer — including a possible wedding to Taylor Swift.

“He has sort of a busy offseason coming up with his engagement and marriage, so we want to be respectful and give him the time he needs to make a decision,” Hunt said. “But we certainly hope that he’ll be back.”

Kelce has not yet shared whether he will retire or return to the team, but he has given insight as to how he will make his decision.

In November, the Chiefs star said he would look to his brother Jason Kelce for advice and consult friends and family members in the process.

“You know, seeing my brother go through it and seeing…just how the league works, the season kind of restarts in April, and I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity to know whether I come back or not,” he said at the time.

Last week on his New Heights podcast, Travis gave fans a bit of hope when he spoke as if he would be on the team next season when the Chiefs welcome back offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, whom he credited for giving him “so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player, as a person.”

Travis added, “I just love the guy and it’s going to be awesome to see him back in the building and see him back wearing the Chiefs logo, baby!”