Jean Carniel/Reuters via Imagn Images

Travis Kelce’s Post-Retirement Plan Predicted

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Dec 9, 2025 1:43 PM ET

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has had an incredible career in the NFL. Now in his 13th season, all of which have come with the Chiefs, Kelce has caught 1,064 passes for 12,878 yards and 82 touchdowns. He's made 10 Pro Bowls, has four First Team All-Pro selections and won three Super Bowls.

Through 13 games in the 2025 season, Kelce has been targeted 83 times with 60 receptions for 727 yards and five scores.

He and the Chiefs have struggled all year, as they sit at 6-7 after losing to the Houston Texans on Sunday. While they can still make the playoffs as a wild-card team, the Chiefs' run of nine consecutive AFC West titles will end this year.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) fails to haul in a pass that Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) would intercept.© Amy Kontras-Imagn Images

On Sunday, Kelce, among other Kansas City receivers, dropped a pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw three interceptions in the game. The 36-year-old tight end is now up to seven drops on the season.

With the down year the Chiefs are having after seeing so much success in recent seasons, and Kelce being engaged to global icon Taylor Swift, people around the league have said this year may be Kelce's last in the NFL.

This includes ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who "speculated" that Kelce will retire after this season. Smith also gave an alternative job for Kelce when he decides to hang up the cleats.

"He would instantly make it in television. Instantly," he said, per People's Skyler Caruso. "He'll have a job waiting for him the second he's finished. The second he's finished, he'll have a job waiting for him because that's just what he brings to the table."

If he were to get into television, Kelce would follow in the footsteps of his brother, Jason, who works for ESPN as an NFL analyst after he retired last year.

Before he decides on his future, Kelce will look to help the Chiefs get back on track on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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