Overview
- On his Jan. 7 New Heights podcast, Kelce said he would return “in a heartbeat” if his body heals and he feels confident he can handle another 18–21 week season.
- Kelce remains undecided and plans to take a few weeks to rest and “be a regular human,” noting he has held exit meetings and the team knows where he stands for now.
- The Chiefs ended a 6–11 season out of the playoffs for the first time in a decade after Patrick Mahomes tore an ACL in Week 15.
- Andy Reid said there are “a lot of variables” but emphasized Kelce can still play, while teammate Chris Jones voiced optimism that Kelce will be back next year.
- Kelce’s restructured contract concluded with the 2025 season, positioning him for unrestricted free agency if no new deal is reached.