NFL’s best-paid guard just dropped a major hint on ‘close friend’ Travis Kelce’s 2026 plans

After a historic run that saw the Kansas City Chiefs hoist back-to-back Lombardi Trophies in 2023 and 2024, the dynasty hit a wall in 2025.

What was meant to be a three-peat bid turned into a “major disappointment” defined by a losing record, a season-ending injury to Patrick Mahomes, and a locker room left with a “bad taste” after missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

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All eyes in Kansas City are now on 2026.

And while the NFL world waits with bated breath for Travis Kelce to announce his retirement or a return for next season, Chiefs guard Trey Smith may have just let the cat out of the bag.

In a raw look at the Chiefs’ locker room culture, Smith, who recently reset the market with a historic 4-year, $94 million extension, offered more than just praise for his teammate. He offered a timeline.

Sitting down with talkSPORT’s Will Gavin, Smith made it sound like Kelce was going to come back next season.

“Travis is the man,” Smith said.

“I love every moment playing with Travis, you know what I mean? Talk about a guy who brings passion, energy. A guy that’s going to be able to rally the troops.

“A guy that, when you watch him battle, it inspires you to go harder, you know what I mean? And he’s a dude I consider a close friend. A guy I care about a lot.

“It’s so much fun playing with Travis. Excited about next year with him as well. He’s just going to keep pushing.”

The speculation surrounding Kelce has reached a fever pitch this offseason, especially with the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

For a player who just committed his long-term future to protecting the Chiefs’ franchise, the mention of “next year” with Kelce feels like more than just wishful thinking—it feels like a glimpse into the team’s internal expectations.

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Smith also confirmed that while the Pro Bowl “rigmarole” takes over San Francisco, Mahomes is already back in the lab. Smith noted that the QB has been a fixture in the training room, obsessing over a return to dominance.

“Pat is the ultimate leader, field general,” Smith said.

“He’s out there. I know he’s working to get stronger, working to get healthy right now as we speak. I was going in—you know, not to get too transparent with it—but like, I was in the training room just working on skills, trying to strengthen things, and just seeing him in there every single day.

“The amount of time he puts into it, the amount of care… man, like, he’s obviously dedicated to the game. I think he’s going to be one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game; I think it’s already evident.

“But man, I know as a competitor, he’s going to bring his best foot forward. He’s going to bring his A-game. I know he wants to win. I want to keep him protected so he can do what he does best, to be one of the best quarterbacks ever.

“It’s not without a doubt that I know as a competitor, he’s obviously upset how it went and I know every day he’s thinking about, ‘Man, what can I do to be better? How can I be better?’

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“And obviously, he’s already the best, but that’s just the way he always approaches the game as a leader, as the best to do it.”

If the rest of the NFL thought the Chiefs would decompress after their recent fall from grace, Smith’s comments suggest the opposite.

The bad taste of the 2025 season has clearly lit a fire under the core of the roster.

With the return of offensive mastermind Bieniemy, Mahomes is hell-bent on coming back better than ever, and Smith’s slip-up about “next year” with the star tight end, the message seems to be clear.

One down year hasn’t broken the Chiefs; it has only fueled the fire for a 2026 redemption tour.

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