Travis Kelce has named only other NFL team he would play for as Chiefs decision made
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has named the only other NFL team he would play for amid speculation over his future.
Last season, Kelce and the Chiefs failed to reach the NFL end-of-season play-offs for the first time since 2014 after a disappointing campaign.
They went 6-11 in the AFC West during the regular season, and suffered another major blow in December when quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL against Los Angeles Chargers.
Mahomes is now likely to miss the majority, if not all, of the 2026 season, but there are still doubts over the immediate futures of some of the Chiefs' other star players.
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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that tight end Kelce - who was the subject of speculation over whether he would retire during the off-season - is now 'expected' to remain with the Chiefs for a 14th season.
It is added that teams interested in signing the 35-year-old have been informed.
Kelce, who is engaged to Taylor Swift, said in January (via The Athletic) that he was still to make a final decision over whether he would return for one more season.
"Who knows? Either it hits me quick, or I've got to take some time [to decide]," he said.
"I think last year was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away I wanted to give this one a shot. So we'll see."
Back in 2024, Kelce stated that he would only leave the Chiefs if he received an offer from an NFL expansion franchise in London.
The NFL still does not have any teams outside of the United States, despite both its growing popularity worldwide and the league hosting matches abroad.
London will host three regular-season NFL matches in 2026, with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hosting two and Wembley the other.
There will also be a fixture in Munich for the first time since 2024.
"I'm waiting for that team to play for another team other than the Chiefs," Kelce said on the 'New Heights' podcast.
"That's the only situation is if I get to play abroad ... 10 years [how long it will take for an overseas franchise team to enter NFL]."
Will a London franchise join the NFL?
At the moment, a London-based NFL franchise isn't in the offing - but there is significant interest.
The NFL has had a 32-team model since 2002, when Houston Texans became the most recent franchise to join the league.
Adding a 33rd team overseas would allow the NFL to tap into a growing European market, given that London would effectively be representing Europe and the rest of the world due to the fact that there is no franchise outside of the United States.
The NFL has staged games in London since 2007, with one of the main reasons being to trial logistics.
Commissioner Roger Goodell stated in September of last year that the prospect of a European franchise remained 'possible', telling CNBC (via Sports Illustrated): "I would say that the markets outside the US are very, very attractive.
"There are markets that could certainly support a team. We've always focused on, what are the competitive consequences of that? Can we manage that.
"And so every year we try to learn something from the international series."
Topics: NFL, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes
Ryan Smart