One of the key reasons Travis Kelce decided to return for the 2026 season with the Kansas City Chiefs was his desire to continue playing alongside Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City is hoping that decision pays off, as Kelce has continued to look like one of Mahomes’ preferred targets throughout training camp.
However, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons remains skeptical about what the veteran tight end can deliver this time around.
Chiefs’ Travis Kelce Receives Brutal Prediction From Bill Simmons
Throughout the offseason program and training camp, Kelce continued to display the reliable receiving ability that has defined his career.
Kelce also saw action on Kansas City’s opening drive in its last preseason matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. He caught his lone target for eight yards in the eventual 9-9 tie, with rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier finding him for his first completion of the night.
With preseason now behind him, Kelce will shift his focus toward the Chiefs’ Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14 on Monday Night Football. He has already expressed confidence that he can play at an even higher level this season, which could potentially be his final one in the league.
However, Simmons isn’t convinced Kelce has much left to offer as an impact player.
“Kelce, I just feel like I didn’t give him points,” Simmons said on “The Ringer” podcast. “I think it’s over for him as an impact guy.”
“I just don’t see the talent with Kansas City.”@BillSimmons makes the case for why this will be a rebuilding year for the Chiefs. pic.twitter.com/iaIN1uQdYB
— The Ringer (@ringer) August 31, 2026
Kelce was still one of Kansas City’s most productive offensive players last season. He led the team in targets with 108, receptions with 76, receiving yards with 851, and touchdowns with five, earning him the No. 5 spot in PFN’s TE Impact Grade.
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Simmons’ doubts may stem from some costly mistakes Kelce made last season. One of the most notable ones came in the Chiefs’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, when Kelce dropped a pass that directly contributed to an interception.
However, Simmons’ concerns extended beyond Kelce, as he also argued that the Chiefs could be entering a rebuilding or transitional phase in 2026. He thinks Kansas City lacks the overall talent and foundation needed to remain among the NFL’s elite, despite having Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid.
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“Reid was terrible last year,” Simmons added. “Their coaching staff was terrible. All the stories that came out of Kansas City were that the team was unfocused, that guys were lazy coming out of meetings. It was kind of like the classic. The players were running the team… They signed Kenneth Walker. Good. Rashee Rice might not be in jail for most of the year. Fine.
“Xavier Worthy is healthy. Are we sure he’s good? It’s a lot like glass-half-full with them because they’re the Chiefs… And then Chris Jones is what, 32, 33? Just feels like they’re gonna move into this different era. I think they know it from the way they treated guys in the draft and trying to get picks. I think this is a transition year for them.”
Kansas City is coming off a disastrous 2025 season, which ended the Chiefs’ remarkable postseason streak, as they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Now, Kelce, Mahomes, and the rest of the Chiefs have an opportunity to silence the doubters with a strong 2026 season.
