Travis Kelce is on the brink of a new era.
After three Super Bowl championships and 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, the sun is setting on the 36-year-old’s incredible football career. Before his team’s 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day, Kelce himself addressed the question of when he would retire.
“I think I’m still looking for those answers,” Kelce said in an interview on Amazon Prime Video.
He later added:
But with his media career taking off, he’s already looking to the future.
Kelsey co-hosts the soccer-focused podcast “New Heights” with her brother Jason, and has a budding acting career, appearing in Adam Sandler’s “Happy Gilmore 2” and hosting the TV show “Are You Smarter than Celebrities?” This year it’s for Amazon.
Not to mention, he’s planning his wedding to fiancée Taylor Swift, which will be the biggest celebrity wedding of 2026.
But which way should we go at this fork in the road? Will he continue to broadcast sports primarily on the East Coast and establish himself as the new Tom Brady, or will he move into Hollywood entirely?
Insiders tell Page Six that it’s the latter, and that Kelce’s managers, twins Aaron and Andre Eanes, have been guiding Kelce’s career since college and are hanging around Tinseltown.
On Dec. 13, our spies said he attended Zooey Deschanel’s Christmas party in Los Angeles and had sex with TV and film people, including Emmy Award-winning “White Lotus” producer David Barnard.
An industry source said, “It looks like they are moving forward with the project,” adding to the rumors of a reality show that have been percolating for a while.
Sources also said in August that Kelsey, 36, was in talks with Curb Your Enthusiasm executive producer Jeff Shafer about appearing in the TV series, which he wrote.
“He’s been talking to Jeff about a show like ‘Curve’ that would follow him. He’d be playing himself, but…he wants to act.”
Industry insiders say major film and television companies like Netflix are interested in Kelce not because of his prowess on the field.
A Netflix source said Kelce’s future has been a topic of conversation, with Bela Bahara, the streamer’s chief content officer, “may be in discussions with his team,” but added, “Things at this level will remain top secret for now.”
In addition to his on-field appearances, Kelce certainly earns a lot of camera time as a pitchman for State Farm, Experian, and Pfizer, and by promoting his own brands like Accelerator Energy Drink and Garage Beer alongside his NFL earnings, which helped him accumulate a net worth of $70 million, according to Forbes.
Another source explained how this shows his proven charm and that it will serve him well in Hollywood.
“To me, he is an invaluable media personality in a polarized country. He appeals to everyone and most people know who he is.
“He’s charismatic. He’s a future NFL Hall of Famer. Even better, he’s a natural on TV. He’s smart, funny, real. He reminds me of (Peyton and Eli) Manning (and) Charles Barkley.”
In fact, some see the Manning brothers, who host their own television show on ESPN, “The Manning Cast,” as a model for how the Kelce brothers could develop their careers in “New Heights” and off the field.
In August 2024, Travis and Jason, 38, signed a three-year, $100 million contract with Wonderly, the podcast company behind New Heights, which has 3.4 million followers on YouTube.
Jason, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles until 2024, also signed a three-year, $24 million contract with ESPN to be an analyst on Monday Night Countdown.
“ESPN could potentially team up the brothers. They’re even better together than apart,” sports media advisor John Costner told Page Six.
“I see the brother’s deal as the most attractive media combo when Travis retires.”
However, ESPN will likely face competition from other legacy networks such as Fox, CBS, Amazon, ESPN, NBC, and the NFL itself.
Another sports analyst said Travis could get the best of both worlds, especially if he signs with Netflix or YouTube.
“It’s hard to see a way for him to become a game analyst; all the top spots are likely to be filled for the foreseeable future,” they noted.
“Netflix and YouTube are big partners, but they don’t have that many games. That could be a way for him to stay in football and get a big paycheck… Any network would want him. The question is whether he wants to go to the studio every week and work.”
A spokesperson for Kelce did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The Chiefs tight end had a disappointing season, losing 10 of 16 games, including the final five in the Super Bowl.
“Obviously, the way this one ended left a sour taste in my mouth,” Kelce said of the season on Amazon Prime Video. “I’m motivated, but I have to make the decision that’s right for me. If I want to come back, I have to hope that the Chiefs are willing to take me back. It’s a two-way street in that regard.”
Meanwhile, Swift has had more freedom in her schedule than she has in years since announcing that she would not be touring in support of her latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
Still, even she took advantage of her fiancé’s airtime, drafting him to appear in the Disney+ documentary series “The End of an Era.”
Speaking about their personal relationship, Swift said on the show that he is a “perfect fit” for her because their passions coexist and actually inspire each other.
“At the end of the day, we just love rooting for each other,” the “Shake It Off” songstress, who is frequently photographed with Kelsey’s family inside the box at Chiefs games, said on the show, adding, “It’s awesome.”
Perhaps in another hint of what’s to come, Swift, who celebrated her 36th birthday on Dec. 13, was spotted holding her fiancé’s youngest son, Jason, and wife Kylie’s youngest daughter, Finley, at her last football game.
She also attended a reunion with high school football coach Jeff Rotsky in Kansas City, Missouri, last week.
The Ohio-based coach told Page Six, “My hope and prayer is that he’s not done with football — of course he’s still a great player. I still think he’s talented, but whatever he decides, he’s going to be great in the media entertainment business and he’s going to be a great actor.”
“They are a special couple. They root for each other and support each other. He brings her money and she brings him money,” Rotsky added.
However, Kelce has already hinted at retirement. On Dec. 14, the Chiefs dramatically fell out of playoff contention for the first time since 2014 in a disastrous game, and the team’s offseason only worsened when star quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Speaking about Mahomes on his podcast, Kelce referred to his team as if he was no longer a member.
“I hope the Chiefs get him back as soon as possible,” he said. “At this point, we know it’s either right around the week or the beginning of next year’s season,” he continued.
“I know he will do everything in his power to get back on the field for the Chiefs as soon as possible.”
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video, Kelce did leave the door open.
“I feel like I still have a lot of love for this game,” he said. “I feel like when I come back, I’ll be responding to that fire in my heart that I still love this thing.”
