While the NFL world is awaiting Travis Kelce’s decision about his playing future, some fans of his and brother Jason’s “New Heights” podcast think the Kansas City Chiefs star already let slip what he’s planning to do.
Kelce’s possible “hint” regarding next season came during this week’s “New Heights” episode when he and his brother were discussing the return of former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Kelce ‘can’t wait’ to see his old coach
Bieniemy and Kelce joined the Chiefs the same year, back in 2013. The former served as running backs coach from 2013-17 before taking over as OC in 2018, a position he held for five seasons.
“I think it’s great. I think the marriage is going to pick up right where it left off,” Kelce said of Bieniemy’s return after one-year stints with the Washington Commanders, UCLA and Chicago Bears.
“I can’t wait to see him back in the building he’s one of my favorite coaches of all time”
Travis shared his thoughts on (a possibly shirtless) Eric Bieniemy returning to the Chiefs pic.twitter.com/MRmdNAcIar
— New Heights (@newheightshow) January 21, 2026
Kelce then proceeded to say he “can’t wait” to see Bieniemy at the Chiefs’ facility.
“I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man. He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time, one of my favorite people of all time,” Kelce said. “I’ve had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player, as a person. I just love the guy. It’s going to be awesome to see him back in the building and see him back wearing the Chiefs logo, baby.”
Did Kelce casually reveal his plan?
Some fans certainly think the three-time Super Bowl champion and future Hall of Famer indicated he will be playing a 14th NFL season next fall.
“This doesn’t sound like a man that’s planning to retire,” said SI contributor Zack Eisen.
“Did Travis just admit that he is returning next year?” one Chiefs fan asked.
“I thought maybe until the last line when he said ‘back with the Chiefs’ and not back with us,” another fan responded, throwing cold water on the idea.
“Back in the building you say?” a Taylor Swift fan chimed in.
“1 year/$12m with 2 void years. He’s coming home,” another Chiefs fan added.
When will Kelce actually announce if he’s coming back or not?
No one knows for certain, but Kelce talked about a decision timeline in a roundabout way during another “New Heights” episode earlier this month.
“I think, yeah, just being a regular human for a couple weeks, maybe a month or so, trying to figure out what I’m gonna do next in terms of my future in football,” he said, via PEOPLE. “And I think, you know, 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.”
Kelce is coming off a season in which he recorded 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns as KC went 6-11, missing the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.
