Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is taking his time before deciding what he’ll do next, but a returning Chiefs coach may have given a big hint about his future plans.

Kelce said he needs more time before deciding whether he’ll return to the NFL next season or head off to retirement. He reached the end of his current contract with the Chiefs after a disappointing 2025 season, and hasn’t given a strong indication whether he’ll hang up the cleats or come back for one more season.

The lack of communication from Kelce has left some fans searching for clues about his future, and they may have found a big one in comments from returning offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

Chiefs Coach May Have Hinted at Travis Kelce’s Return

Bieniemy was with the Chiefs for the start of Kelce’s career, working with the team from 2013 to 2022. He’s coming back as the team’s offensive coordinator, and said this week that he’s excited to reunite with some of his longtime players — including Kelce.

In a remark that many saw as a sign that Kelce is coming back for 2026, Bieniemy said he’s talked briefly to both Kelce and Patrick Mahomes and is excited to start working with them again.

“I’ve had a small minimal conversation with both and they all have been great, but more than anything, it’s just the excitement of reuniting,” Bieniemy said, via People magazine.

Bieniemy added that he’s even more excited to start working with the team.

“It feels good just to sit down and have conversations with guys. To be honest, I haven’t talked any football or anything, it’s just the excitement of seeing each other, asking how they’re doing and making sure everything is good moving forward.”

The returning Chiefs coach continued to make comments that hinted he would be working with both Mahomes and Kelce on the field in 2026.

“Am I fired up? Yes. Do I respect the hell out of both those guys? Yes,” Bieniemy said. “So I’m looking forward to getting back in the grind and chopping wood with them.”

Travis Kelce Has Hinted at Difficulty of Decision

Kelce has been blunt about the difficulty of the decision he faces, saying he is weighing whether he can hold up for another long season — plus a potential playoff run.

“If I think my body can heal up and rest up, and I can feel confident that I can go out there and give it another 18, 20, 21 week run, I think I would do it in a heartbeat,” Kelce said.

Kelce added that he’s been keeping the Chiefs updated on his decision process, saying they will know when he does.

“I’ve talked to a few people in the facility already, you know, having the exit meetings and everything, and they know where I stand, at least right now,” he said. “And I think there’s a lot of love for the game that’s still there, and I don’t think I’ll ever lose that. And I don’t know, it’s a tough thing to navigate.”