You’ve probably seen the headlines or the frantic social media posts. The rumors fly fast when a legend hits 36. People start whispering that the Kansas City Chiefs finally pulled the trigger. They ask: did Chiefs cut Travis Kelce?
Honestly, it's a wild question to even think about. We’re talking about a guy who has been the heartbeat of that offense for a decade. But in the NFL, nobody is safe forever.
Here is the flat-out truth: The Kansas City Chiefs did not cut Travis Kelce. He is still on the roster. He hasn't been waived, released, or shown the door. However, if you’re confused, I get it. The 2025-2026 season was a mess for Kansas City. For the first time since 2014, they missed the playoffs. They lost Patrick Mahomes to injury late in the year. They lost to the Raiders 14-12 on January 4, 2026, to end a miserable campaign. When a dynasty looks like it's crumbling, people assume the stars are getting cut.
The Reality Behind the Travis Kelce Roster Rumors
Why is everyone asking if he got cut? It usually comes down to three things: a bad season, a massive contract, and the "R" word—retirement.
Kelce just finished his 13th season. He’s 36 years old. That’s ancient for a tight end who plays as physical as he does. After that final loss to Las Vegas, he was visibly emotional. He stayed on the field at Arrowhead during the final home game a week prior, just soaking it in. Fans saw that and immediately thought, "He’s gone."
But "gone" and "cut" are two very different things in pro sports.
The Chiefs would be crazy to cut him from a financial standpoint anyway. Back in April 2024, Kelce signed a two-year extension worth $34.25 million. This deal made him the highest-paid tight end in the league. Because of how the NFL salary cap works, cutting a player of his stature creates "dead money." Basically, the Chiefs would still have to pay for him even if he wasn't on the team.
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He didn't get cut. He is currently an unrestricted free agent heading into the 2026 offseason because his contract effectively reaches a crossroads now.
What Rob Gronkowski Said That Fueled the Fire
It didn't help that Rob Gronkowski went on Fox NFL Sunday in late December 2025 and dropped a bombshell. Gronk basically said that if Kelce keeps playing in 2026, it might not be in Kansas City.
Gronk knows a thing or two about leaving a legendary situation to try something new. He did it when he joined Tom Brady in Tampa. His logic? The Chiefs are entering a "rebuild year." If Kelce wants one more ring, he might look for a "win-now" roster elsewhere.
This sent the internet into a tailspin. People started reporting it as if the Chiefs had already moved on. They haven't. But for the first time in forever, the door is actually open for him to leave.
Travis Kelce’s 2025 Stats: Is He Still "The Guy"?
Look, the numbers don't lie, but they do require some context.
In 2025, Kelce put up 851 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. For 99% of tight ends in the league, those are Pro Bowl numbers. For Travis Kelce? It’s a "down" year. He didn't hit that 1,000-yard mark that we all became so used to.
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2025 Season Breakdown
- Receptions: 76
- Yards: 851
- Average: 11.2 per catch
- Touchdowns: 5
It wasn't just him, though. The whole Chiefs offense felt "off" all year. Without Mahomes for the stretch run, Kelce was being double-covered by every defense in the league because there wasn't another consistent threat to scare them.
He's still productive. He’s still elite at finding the soft spots in a zone. But he’s not the 1,400-yard monster he was in 2020. That's just Father Time doing his thing.
The Retirement Question: Will He Follow Jason?
This is the real story. It’s not about the Chiefs cutting him; it’s about Travis choosing to walk away.
On the latest episode of New Heights, Travis was pretty blunt. He told Jason that he needs to "be a regular human for a couple of weeks" before making a call. He’s beat up. He talked about feeling like a "mangy animal" just trying to survive the season.
He has nothing left to prove. He’s got the three rings. He’s got the podcast empire. He’s got the high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift that has made him a global icon beyond the gridiron. He's even got new business ventures with Jason launching as we speak.
If he retires, it’s on his terms. The Chiefs wouldn't "cut" him; they would hold a massive press conference and probably build a statue.
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The Chiefs Are Already Preparing
You can tell what a team thinks by how they spend their money. On January 12, 2026, the Chiefs signed tight end Tre Watson to a reserve/future contract.
Does Tre Watson replace Travis Kelce? No.
But it shows the front office is nervous. They are adding depth because they don't know if their Hall of Famer is coming back. They also have Noah Gray, but they need bodies in that room if #87 decides he’s done catching passes for a living.
What Happens Next?
So, if you were worried about a "cut" notification on your phone, you can breathe. Travis Kelce is still a Chief for now.
The next few months will be quiet. He usually goes off the grid a bit after the season. We’ll likely get the final answer via the podcast or an official team statement before the new league year starts in March.
If he does stay, expect a restructured deal. The Chiefs need cap space to fix the roster, and Kelce has always been a "team-first" guy when it comes to the money. He’s already made over $112 million in his career from football alone—he’s not hurting for cash.
What you should watch for:
- The "New Heights" Podcast: This is where the real news usually breaks first. Keep an ear out for his tone when talking about the "itch" to play.
- Roster Moves in March: If the Chiefs start aggressively signing veteran wide receivers, it’s a sign they’ve convinced Kelce to give it one more run.
- Physical Health Updates: If he undergoes any "clean-up" surgeries this month, he’s likely planning to return. If he just stays on vacation, retirement is leaning heavy.
Kelce isn't going out because some suit in the front office told him to leave. If 2025 was the end, he’s going out as the greatest to ever play the position for the Chiefs. Period.