Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt Has 'no Doubt' Travis Kelce Can Still Play

Count Clark Hunt as the latest hoping to see No. 87 back in 2026.

The Kansas City Chiefs owner oversaw the least successful season in nearly a decade, with the Chiefs missing out on the playoffs for the first time during the Patrick Mahomes era. With some roster changes on the horizon, the biggest question might surround the availability of tight end Travis Kelce.

Kelce, Mahomes' favorite target during a majority of that stretch, is seemingly nearing the end of his career, with retirement rumors swirling around the future Hall of Fame tight end in recent seasons.

While Kelce's production took a small downswing in 2025, Hunt said he hopes to see Kelce back on the field for the upcoming season.

In an appearance on the Jan. 27 edition of "Good Morning Football," Hunt detailed his support of Kelce, saying the organization hopes he's back in 2026:

"He had another great year, maybe not on par with where he was four or five years ago, but still had over 800 yards, and was really one of the leaders on the offensive side of the ball for us. So there’s no doubt in my mind that he can still play. We’re trying to be respectful and let him have the time that he needs to make a decision."

Hunt added that he is giving the tight end time to make his decision given Kelce's "busy offseason," which includes his pending nuptials to fiancee Taylor Swift.

Still, Kelce took his preseason training seriously, focusing on his speed and agility to make the most of the twilight of his career. The results: A slight uptick from his 2024 season.

Kelce finished the 2025 season with 851 yards receiving to go with five touchdowns on 76 receptions, which is the lowest mark since his 2015 season.

Will Travis Kelce retire?

On the Jan. 7 episode of the "New Heights" podcast, Kelce said he is planning to take some time to determine his on-field future and that people within the Chiefs organization know where he stands.

"Just being a regular human for a couple weeks, maybe a month or so, and try to figure out what I'm going to do next in terms of my future in football," Kelce said. "I've talked to a few people in the facility already, having the exit meetings and everything. They know where I stand, at least right now."

Kelce added: "It's a tough thing to navigate, but at the same time, if my body can rest up and heal up, and I can feel confident that I can go out there and give it another 18-, 20-, 21-week run, I think I would do it in a heartbeat. I think right now, it's just finding that answer and seeing how the body feels after this game and when it all settles down."

Kelce turns 37 on Oct. 5.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travis Kelce gets endorsement to return from Kansas City Chiefs owner