Reporters address how Chiefs could use Travis Kelce during 2025 season

Shortly after it was learned on Thursday that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will play at least one more campaign with the organization, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated hinted that the Chiefs believe getting wide receiver Rashee Rice back from injury could help "take some burden off Kelce during" the 2025 regular season.

Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame later expanded on Breer's point. 

"Last season," Verderame explained, "Kelce managed a career-low 823 yards on 8.5 yards per reception, the first time he managed less than double digits. Kelce was also forced into a leading role once again with (receiver) Xavier Worthy breaking in as a rookie and with the injuries to (fellow receivers) Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown and Rashee Rice."

Rice played in just four games this past season before he went down with a knee injury that left him needing surgery. Meanwhile, Brown suffered a sternoclavicular injury during the preseason and was out of action up until Week 16. 

While Kelce led the Chiefs in receiving yards and with 97 receptions, he tallied just three touchdown catches from Week 1 through Week 17 (Kansas City rested starters for the regular-season finale). According to Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, Kelce "was battling through a pretty big illness" leading up to the Super Bowl LIX loss versus the Philadelphia Eagles. After that defeat, Kelce suggested he could retire due to the "wear and tear" on his body. 

He turns 36 years old in October. 

"This year," Verderame continued, "expect Kelce to become more of a role player in Kansas City’s offense. That was the plan in 2024, but the aforementioned injuries changed things. ...The real question is what does that look like? Kelce has long been a close friend and top option for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In 2024, that could arguably have been part of Kansas City’s offensive problems, as Mahomes ranked 41st of 43 qualifying quarterbacks in average depth of target."

This past fall, Kelce seemed to embrace attracting attention from defensive players during games as the previously mentioned Worthy (a team-high six touchdown catches) and fellow tight end Noah Gray (five touchdowns) finished with more receiving scores than the future Hall of Famer. Verderame noted that Kelce will need to "fit into his new role as a third option" for Mahomes later this year unless the Chiefs endure yet another injury crisis on offense. 

There's no indication Kelce would mind if his regular-season production dips as long as he's at his best for the start of the 2026 postseason tournament.