Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce holds his helmet on the sideline during an NFL game as he weighs his retirement decision.
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Travis Kelce stands on the sideline with his helmet during a Chiefs game as questions continue about his NFL future and potential retirement decision.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is a certain Hall of Famer, and after a 13-year career, has been an essential piece of the Chiefs’ extraordinary run that saw them win three Super Bowls and play in two more since 2019. But his time in the NFL is reaching its conclusion at age 36, and as he continues to weigh his retirement decision, a new potential career opportunity emerged on Thursday that could lure Kelce away from the NFL.
Kelce, a Chiefs’ third-round draft pick in 2013, already has plenty going on in his life away from football. His impending marriage to global pop music megastar Taylor Swift has made him a media celebrity well beyond the sports world, and with an estimated net worth of $70 million, the four-time first-team All-Pro has accumulated a wide range of investments from a Kansas City steak restaurant to the Six Flags theme park to the Formula 1 Alpine Racing team.
And before the 2024 NFL season, Kelce and his brother Jason — a retired center for the Philadelphia Eagles — signed a deal with Amazon for rights to their sports-and-entertainment podcast New Heights. Amazon reportedly paid approximately $100 million for three years of rights to the Kelce podcast, through their podcasting subsidiary Wondery.
Now, according to a report by media correspondent Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Kelce may have his most high-profile off-field career opportunity yet, one that would also keep him deeply involved with the NFL.
Kelce Could Make Career Move into Broadcasting
According to Marchand, Amazon Prime may decide to replace its Thursday Night Football in-game analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
“The legendary Al Michaels is potentially retiring from broadcasting at the end of next season. Michaels’ boothmate Kirk Herbstreit is entering the final year of his contract on Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football,” Marchand wrote. “Travis Kelce appears as if he will try to play another season before potentially trying broadcasting, where he would like to call games, but probably could pick up at least $15 million per year as a studio presence.”
But according to Marchand, Kelce prefers an in-game analyst role to a studio job. And Herbstreit’s current position could be the one.
“If Prime Video moves on from Herbstreit, it could look at the well-respected Greg Olsen of Fox and (former Houston Texans defensive end) J.J. Watt, but the wild cards are Kelce and (Los Angeles Rams coach) Sean McVay,” Marchand wrote.
Chiefs ‘Prepared’ to Lose Kelce to Retirement
As Kelce takes his time deciding whether he will return to the Chiefs to help the team get back on track after winning just six games last season, the Chiefs have said that they are willing to give their 11-time Pro Bowler all the time he needs — but according to general manager Brett Veach, the Chiefs are also “prepared” to enter the 2026 season without him.
“We’re trying to position ourselves that either way. We have a plan moving forward,” Veach said earlier this week. “Travis is the best. He’s an icon and hopefully he comes back. He’s accomplished everything. He’s about to go get married and has a lot going on. We’ll continue to have positive dialogue and see where it ends.”
According to Marchand, if Kelce were to be offered, and accept, the Amazon Prime TNF job, his partner on play-by-play after Michaels’ retirement is likely to be veteran sports broadcaster Ian Eagle, who is already the top game announcer for Amazon Prime’s NBA package.