Kelce is eligible to sign prior to the beginning of the 2026 NFL year on Wednesday (March 11), while free agents who intend to join new teams must wait until after their current contracts expire. The reported agreement came hours after Rapoport reported that NFL teams were notified that Kelce intended to return to the Chiefs for his 14th season.

"I think my best opportunity was playing for the Chiefs yet again and running this thing back with [quarterback] Pat Mahomes and [head] coach [Andy] Reid and got my guy [offensive coordinator] Eric Bieniemy back, there's a lot of pieces in Kansas City that I absolutely love and I can't wait to get back in the building with them," Kelce told McAfee.

In January, Kelce said the Chiefs were aware of "where I stand" on his potential retirement decision "at least right now" during the latest episode of his New Heights podcast.

“I’ve talked to a few people in the facility already, you know, having the exit meetings and they know where I stand at least right now,” Kelce said to his brother and co-host, retired former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, and their guest, Academy Award winner Matt Damon, during Wednesday's episode. “There’s a lot of love for the game that’s still there and I don’t think I’ll ever lose that. I don’t know. It’s a tough thing to navigate, but at the same time, I think if my body can heal up and rest up and I can feel content that I can go out there and give it another run, I think I would do it in a heartbeat. So I think right now it’s just finding that answer … when it all settles down.”

Kelce missed the playoffs for only the second time in his 13-year NFL career and said he will take the time being "human" with his friends and family.

“I put my feet up and I just be a human because I’ve been putting my body through the wringer for the love of it. I do enjoy playing football and the physical aspect of it. There is something about feeling the wear and tear of the football season … Just being a regular human for a couple weeks, maybe a month or so, and try and figure out what I’m going to do next in terms of my future in football," Kelce said.

The 36-year-old finished the 2025 NFL season with 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns, having been selected as a Pro Bowler for the 11th consecutive season.

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