Travis Kelce has said the only other NFL team he would play for now that the Chiefs have made their decision.
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has shared which other NFL team he might play for, ending some of the guessing about his future.
Last season was a tough one for Kelce and the Chiefs. They missed the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2014, finishing with a 6-11 record in the AFC West. Things got harder in December when quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mahomes is expected to miss most or all of the 2026 season. On top of that, there’s still uncertainty about what some of the Chiefs’ other key players will do next.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kelce—who people thought might retire during the off-season—is now expected to stick with the Chiefs for a 14th season. Teams interested in signing the 35-year-old have already been told. Kelce, who’s engaged to Taylor Swift, told The Athletic in January that he hadn’t made a final choice about returning for another year yet. “Who knows? Sometimes it hits me fast, or I need more time to decide,” he said. “Last year was easier—I knew right away I wanted to try one more season. So, we’ll see.”
Back in 2024, Kelce said he’d only leave the Chiefs if he got an offer from a brand-new NFL team based in London. While the NFL doesn’t have any teams outside the US yet, the sport’s popularity is growing worldwide, and the league hosts games abroad. In 2026, London will host three regular-season NFL games—two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one at Wembley. Munich will also host a game for the first time since 2024.
“I’m waiting for the chance to play somewhere else besides the Chiefs,” Kelce said on the ‘New Heights’ podcast. “The only way that happens is if I get to play overseas. It might take 10 years for a team abroad to join the NFL.”
Right now, a London team isn’t official, but interest is strong. The NFL has had 32 teams since 2002, when the Houston Texans joined. Adding a 33rd team overseas would help the league reach more fans in Europe and beyond since no team exists outside the US yet.
The NFL has been playing games in London since 2007, partly to test how things might work there. Commissioner Roger Goodell said in September that having a European team is still “possible.” He told CNBC, “Markets outside the US are very attractive. There are places that could support a team. We want to understand the competition impact and manage it carefully. Every year, we learn more from the international games.”