Kansas City Chiefs fans believing that Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes would be running things back in 2026 were dealt a cold reality when the quarterback clarified a cryptic tweet on Wednesday.
The future of the Chiefs’ dynamic duo will be one of the biggest questions for the NFL offseason as the pair could end their partnership.
Mahomes is facing a long road to recovery after tearing his Achilles tendon toward the back end of the 2025 NFL season, which could impact his availability for this upcoming campaign.
Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Kelce may be off to retirement after he considered hanging up the helmet last year. Now, after another season of low production, that question comes to the fore once again.
But Chiefs fans may have thought there was confirmation of a reunion when Mahomes tweeted out ‘Let’s go!!!!!’ and tagging Kelce while adding three dartboard emojis.
Fans scrambled to social media, believing that the quarterback was hinting at a return for his favorite target. In reality, Mahomes was celebrating Kelce’s success in another sport.
Patrick Mahomes sent fans into hysterics by shouting out Travis Kelce – leading some to believe that the tight end and favorite target was going to return to play in 2026
But Mahomes was really referring to a great golf shot Kelce hit at the Phoenix Open pro-am
The Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Kelce is leaning towards a return to the NFL in 2026
Kelce was actually taking part in the pro-am for the Waste Management Phoenix Open – one of the PGA Tour’s most popular events – when he approached the famous ‘Stadium Hole’, the Par-3 16th.
He was dialed in and landed a perfectly struck iron shot within just about a foot of the hole.
The crowd went wild and Kelce celebrated with an ‘air guitar’ before high fiving his playing partners.
This is what Mahomes was referring to and the quarterback instantly clarified his earlier message via a second tweet when he said ‘Talking about [golf emojis] [laughing emojis].’
Unfortunately for Chiefs fans, this means they’ll have to wait a little longer before hearing any news about the tight end’s return to the game.
Kelce hasn’t exactly offered any clarity on his future, however, the Daily Mail exclusively reported that the tight end is planning to return for one final season.
It’s believed that the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is pushing Kelce to play the 2026 season.
Under Bieniemy, Kelce had some of the greatest statistical seasons of his career and won multiple Super Bowl titles.
