Retirement discussions have surrounded Kansas City Chiefs’ star Travis Kelce for some time. At 36, he has already established himself as one of the best tight ends in NFL history. However, in March, Kelce affirmed he still had one more season by signing a one-year, $12 million deal to return to Kansas City for 2026.

A significant factor in Kelce’s decision was his relationship with Patrick Mahomes. Their connection was evident throughout training camp. Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Kelce praised Mahomes’ performance as he recovered from a torn ACL and LCL. ‘Everybody knows I love that guy,’ Kelce said. ‘That’s a brother to me. I’m so proud of the way he handled adversity from last year to right now. We still have about a month until the first game, but if you see him out here, he’s enjoying the game, competing at a high level, and not thinking about the knee. He’s playing his tail off and leading us.’

Mahomes tore both his ACL and LCL during a Week 14 game against the Los Angeles Chargers last season. The injury cut his season short, and the Chiefs lost their subsequent three games, resulting in their worst record of the Mahomes era at 6-11.

Approaching 31, and following the most severe injury of his career, questions emerged about Mahomes’ readiness for Week 1 and the possibility of the injury affecting the 2026 season. Nevertheless, during camp, coaches and teammates commended him, and he showed no signs of decline. Indications are Mahomes will be ready when the Chiefs face the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14.