There’s no guarantee Kelce and Bieniemy will run it again. Retirement rumors have swirled around the 36-year-old Kelce for more than a year now, and fans were treated to a virtual send-off at the end of a frustrating 2025 season with the Chiefs — just in case that was indeed it for him.
But did Kelce hint in Bieniemy’s promise that he might be back in 2026?
“I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man,” Kelce said. “He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time, one of my favorite people of all time. I’ve had so many incredible moments growing up under him as a player, as a person, and I love the guy.
“It’s going to be awesome to see him back in the building and to see him back with the Chiefs badge, baby.
So does that mean Kelce is back too, baby?
Not necessarily. Kelce could be talking about going back and visiting old friends, checking in on injured teammate Patrick Mahomes or maybe sharing a hot meal with Bieniemy, Andy Reid and the rest of the old crew.
But for breadcrumb-chasing Chiefs fans hoping to make that run again one more time, Kelce’s words could take on a whole different meaning. Interpret his words however you can. They’re all we have until Kelce makes a more formal announcement about his NFL future.