ESPN Insider Advising Chiefs to Not Bring Back Travis Kelce Next Season Doesn’t Sit Well With Fans

Mike Tannenbaum continues to paddle the theory that the Kansas City Chiefs are better off without Travis Kelce. Speaking on a recent segment of ESPN’s “Get Up,” Tannenbaum urged the Chiefs to avoid giving Kelce a new contract and sign a younger tight end.

The Chiefs gave Kelce time to think before making the final decision about his future. That doesn’t mean he has an entire year in his hand. He has until the free market opens because the Chiefs can only look into other players based on Kelce’s decision.

Tannenbaum believes that it is time for the Chiefs to cut ties with the veteran, who won three championships during his 13-year stint with the club.

I wouldn’t do it. When you’re in the front office, and you’re a head coach, you have to make the honest and sober observation that you want to pay a player for what they’re going to do, not what they’ve done. He is slowing down.

Mike Tannenbaum said

.@RealTannenbaum's comments about Travis Kelce had @JasonMcCourty shocked 😳 pic.twitter.com/vKhrnRlGmC

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 23, 2026

Tannenbaum makes a valid point. Kelce is 36, and it is natural for him to lose a few steps as he grows older. However, his 2025 statistics present a contrasting narrative. Kelce led the Chiefs’ receiving corps with 76 receptions, 108 targets, and 851 receiving yards. He also recorded the same number of touchdowns (5), tying with teammates Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice.

Mike Tannenbaum wants the Chiefs to replace Travis Kelce with a younger tight end

Tannenbaum also provided advice for Chiefs general manager Brett Veach if they do decide to release Kelce. The former NFL executive urged Veach and the Chiefs to sign a younger tight end.

Tannenbaum highlighted a couple of ways the Chiefs can lower the average age of their tight end room. The first option is obviously to poach the best player from a rival team. The second option is to explore the NFL draft.

When you look at the best tight ends in the game right now, Trey McBride is [26], Brock Bowers is [23], and Sam LaPorta is 25. There [are] some really good tight ends in the draft, like Kenyon Sadiq, Max Klare, [and] Michael Trigg, among others. If I’m Kansas City, go get the next guy.

Tannenbaum said

This is a follow-up to his statement about Kelce, which drew a lot of backlash from fans and from current Chiefs defender Chris Jones. Shortly after his speech, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network disclosed that the Chiefs are speaking with Kelce for a possible extension.

It seems like this is trending toward Travis coming back and playing for Kansas City, but nothing is done until it’s done.

Tom Pelissero said via Total Pro Sports. (HT/Yardbarker)

Kelce is no longer an NFL legend and a future Hall of Famer; he is also the fiance of Grammy-winning singer Taylor Swift. According to reports from Page Six and US Magazine, the pair is busy making arrangements for their wedding. Although a date has yet to be finalized, insiders speculate that Swift has picked June 13 as her wedding day.

Speaking with the media at a recent press briefing, head coach Andy Reid revealed they are in touch with Kelce.

There is communication, though. That’s the main thing. I’ve said this before: As long as there’s communication, I’m good.

Reid said

Andy Reid didn't say Travis Kelce has provided a firm answer on 2026, but noted there's ongoing communication, "We're proceeding with that, and there is communication."

— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) February 20, 2026

Tannenbaum’s colleague expressed a different opinion on Travis Kelce

Former Patriot Jason McCourty shared the panel with Tannenbaum during the discussion about Kelce’s future in KC. Unlike his colleague, McCourty wants the Chiefs to re-sign the former Bearcat for another year and push for a fourth ring.

No brainer. Absolutely, we’re bringing him [Travis Kelce] back. Not only because of what he’s done and what he means. He’s going to obviously be a first-ballot Hall of Famer with what he’s done in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform. But he was still good last year.

McCourty said

CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry, in a recent article, suggested that the Chiefs may follow the same route with Kelce as they did with Patrick Mahomes. Corry predicted that, similar to Mahomes, the Chiefs will also ask Kelce to take a significant pay cut while penning the new deal.

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