With the offseason underway and free agency approaching on March 11, questions are piling up for the Kansas City Chiefs. At the center of it all: has Travis Kelce played his final season in Kansas City? However, head coach Andy Reid may have already hit a snag after Pro Football Focus’s latest update.

In his latest take, PFF’s Nathan Jahnke suggested the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be tight end Kyle Pitts’ landing spot this offseason. 

Reid has been circling the names of his preferred TE this season, who could replace Kelce if he decides to hang up his cleats. And Atlanta Falcons‘ Pitts certainly made his case this season after three disappointing years.

While there’s no larger sample size to analyze Pitts’ numbers and he hasn’t exactly lived up to the lofty expectations that came with being the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he’s still just 25 years old and has a ton of upside. Moreover, his mixed start to the NFL wouldn’t fall on him completely.

Over his first four seasons, Atlanta rarely leaned into his skill set. That was evident in 2024, when Pitts finished with just 602 yards on 47 receptions and four touchdowns. Things finally changed in 2025.

Under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Pitts delivered one of the best seasons of his young career. Across 17 games, he hauled in 88 receptions for 928 yards and scored five touchdowns. However, with Kevin Stefanski taking over the head coaching duties with the Falcons, Robinson left Atlanta for the Buccaneers as their fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons.

That connection is key.

Pitts is set to hit free agency. Meanwhile, although Tampa Bay has depth at wide receiver, its starting tight end, Cade Otton, is approaching free agency. Put it all together, and PFF’s link between Pitts and Robinson in Tampa makes sense. Of course, Pitts would want to continue under the offensive caller who gave him career-highs in just one season.

For the Buccaneers and the TE, it’s a logical move. For the Chiefs, it’s potentially a problem.

Pitts may not be the only option to eventually replace Kelce, but he’s long been viewed as one of the more natural fits. Even before the 2025 season, his name surfaced in Kansas City circles. During the 2025 offseason, Bleacher Report’s Mitch Milani included Pitts in a list of blockbuster trade ideas for the Chiefs.

“Falcons fans would even agree that Kyle Pitts has been poorly treated and poorly utilized,” Milani said. “So why not give him to a team with Andy Reid that has used Travis Kelce magnificently?”

It made sense, but at the time, nothing materialized.

Pitts stayed in Atlanta, and Kelce opted to return for another year. This offseason, though, feels different. The Falcons finally unlocked Pitts’ potential, and now they face a decision. Either re-sign him or risk losing him. If PFF’s projection holds and Tampa Bay steps in, Kansas City could miss out on a reliable successor for Kelce. However, let’s look at what will make the best sense for Pitts.

Breaking down Kyle Pitts’ three possible landing spots

While we will only talk about three teams the tight end could join, there is no shortage of options for him. But when it comes to the Falcons, the Chiefs, and the Buccaneers, here is what could go in favor of Pitts:

• Signing with the Chiefs: There is no shortage of film that prove that Andy Reid and his offensive staff know exactly how to use an athletic tight end. There’s a reason why Travis Kelce, despite being 36 years old, was one of the best tight ends in the NFL last season.
  Whether or not the No. 87 returns for another season, Pitts would be very well utilized in Kansas City. Moreover, with Eric Bieniemy returning as their OC, the person who developed Kelce into the legend he is today, Pitts would be in a very good position. From a fantasy point of view, Pitts would be a fantasy stud in that offense.
• Returning to the Falcons: While it may be a boring option, hear me out. The Falcons will be playing under a new head coach, but that happens to be the offensive maestro, Kevin Stefanski. While his Browns tenure did not turn out the way he would’ve wanted, he happens to love athletic TEs like Pitts.
  Just take the example of how he utilized David Njoku in a variety of ways. In 2025, with the even more versatile rookie Harold Fannin Jr., he put the young TE in every possible spot of the formation at various times. If he returns, he will also be under OC Tommy Rees and pass game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who have a great rapport when it comes to building offensive players up.
  There’s no doubt that Pitts would enjoy playing in Stefanski’s offense. Moreover, their new president of football, Matt Ryan, was Pitts’ quarterback for his record-breaking rookie season in 2021. If things work out, the organization can put a franchise tag on him for another season at $16 million.
• Signing with the Bucs: As noted earlier, signing with Tampa Bay would be a preferable outcome for both Pitts and his former OC Robinson. If that isn’t enough, Pitts’ prior connection to the area as an alum of the University of Florida would certainly add weight to this case. He himself confessed his love for the state.
  “Man, I love the great state of Florida,” said Pitts, whose only other multi-score game in the NFL came in the Buccaneers’ stadium last year.
  

After a breakout season, these wouldn’t be Pitts’ only suitors this offseason. The Miami Dolphins, the New England Patriots, and the Philadelphia Eagles are also in the mix. While it is some big news for Pitts, it’s certainly not for Reid and the Chiefs, who are still awaiting Kelce’s retirement decision.

Will Travis Kelce return in 2026 or retire at 36?

The Chiefs know there will eventually come a time when they’re playing without Travis Kelce. The real question is when that moment arrives. Kansas City has been here before. After losing the Super Bowl last year, there was real skepticism about whether Kelce would return. In the end, the 36-year-old came back for his 13th season, driven largely by the sour taste that Super Bowl LIX loss against the Eagles left behind.

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Fast forward to now, and the conversation has resurfaced, only under very different circumstances.

The Chiefs just wrapped up the 2025 season with a 6–11 record, their worst finish in a decade. Along the way, Kelce posted one of the least productive seasons of his career since 2015. That context alone has reignited the inevitable question: Does Kelce return for 2026, or does he finally hang up his cleats at 36?

For now, Kelce hasn’t offered a definitive answer. What he has said is measured and familiar. “I’ll spend some time with them, go through exit meetings tomorrow, and get close to the family and figure things out.”

Still, there’s at least one factor that could tilt the decision toward a return.

The Chiefs’ new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, is back in the building. Since Kansas City rehired Bieniemy, reports have suggested that Kelce could be intrigued by the chance to play under him again. And recently, Bieniemy himself hinted that a reunion isn’t out of the question.

“I’ve had just a small minimum conversation with [Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes], and they have been great. More than anything, it’s just the excitement of reuniting. I’m looking forward to getting back in the grind and chopping wood with them,” he said.

If nothing else, that comment suggests this isn’t a closed chapter yet. Retirement remains a very real possibility, but so does one more run. In the end, the decision rests with Kelce, and only Kelce, as the Chiefs wait to see whether their longtime centerpiece has one more season left in him and if they find the opportunity to land his possible successor.