The Chicago Bears usually aren't worried about the career decisions of players from other teams. They have their own problems to sort out. However, the situation with Travis Kelce is different. Nobody questions that he is a future Hall of Famer. He has the second-most receiving yards for a tight end in NFL history. He has three Super Bowl rings. That gold jacket is inevitable. However, the 2025 season was a wake-up call for him. Kelce had the fewest yards and touchdowns of his career. Worse still, Philadelphia rendered him almost completely invisible in the Super Bowl.
Many wonder if, at age 35, it might be time for him to retire. Kelce already has so many career opportunities post-football. His girlfriend is one of the wealthiest women in the world. The guy would be just fine. Word is the tight end plans to mull the decision over in the coming weeks. Many inside the organization believe he already has an idea of what he will do. So why does this matter to the Bears?
If Kelce retires, the Chiefs would secure an additional $17 million in salary cap space. Some fear this would be just enough wiggle room for them to retain right guard Trey Smith and prevent him from hitting free agency.
The Bears are rooting for one more year from Travis Kelce.
Expectations are that Smith will be available since Kansas City has several key defensive players that they must work to lock up. However, after watching how dismal the offensive line was in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs might be having second thoughts about that. The problem is finding the necessary cap space to make an extension work. While losing Kelce would be tough, it would provide the breathing room they need to make it work. All they would have to do is make one or two other contract moves.
Right now, the Chiefs are barely above the cap at $113,000. Retaining Smith would require far too much manipulation of their books, which could mortgage their future. Conversely, allowing him to walk and sign a lucrative free agent deal elsewhere saves money and likely assures them a future 3rd round compensatory pick. Travis Kelce retiring solves that problem. It allows them to maintain some stability up front. Sadly, it would make the Bears' efforts to retool their own offensive line more difficult.
