With no clarity on Travis Kelce’s future at the moment, speculation on his next move continues as the NFL world awaits word on his potential retirement.
Kelce, 36, has not provided clarity into what 2026 may hold for him on the field after a rough season for the Kansas City Chiefs that ended without a playoff appearance.
After considering hanging up his helmet in 2025 – but ultimately choosing to return – the question has now arrived again on if he’ll call it a career. If he does, there are plenty of opportunities waiting for him.
One of those would be broadcasting NFL games. According to a report from The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Kelce ‘appears as if he will try to play another season,’ but could earn ‘at least $15million per year’ on the air.
As for where he may go, Marchand notes that Kirk Herbstreit’s contract with Amazon Prime Video for ‘Thursday Night Football’ will expire after the 2026 season.
While Greg Olsen of Fox and JJ Watt of CBS are options to replace Herbstreit – the former Ohio State quarterback and longtime ESPN college football commentator – Marchand says the ‘wild cards’ would be Kelce or Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay.
Travis Kelce may be pivoting to the broadcast booth soon with his career uncertain
Reports indicate he could replace Kirk Herbstreit in the booth for Amazon Prime Video
Kelce has not officially announced whether or not he’ll return to the NFL for the 2026 season
Herbstreit has been in the booth for Prime Video ever since Amazon won the rights to broadcast NFL games beginning with the 2022 season.
But his broadcast partner, 81-year-old Al Michaels, is reportedly considering retirement at the end of the next season.
So, now might be the time for the company to consider options like Kelce for the future.
In the meantime, the veteran Chiefs tight end has plenty to look forward to off the field in 2026.
Not only does he have plenty of sponsorship and endorsement deals to work on, he also has other media engagements as well.
Of course, there’s also his wedding with international pop icon Taylor Swift to plan – with the lavish ceremony set to take place this summer in Rhode Island.
