Travis Kelce Return Delays Media Sweepstakes

Bad news for NFL media partners: Travis Kelce, their potential No. 1 TV target, appears to be off the board for the 2026 season.

As Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Monday, the veteran tight end is expected to return to the Chiefs for a 14th season. 

One can only imagine the jubilation that would have erupted at any media outlet if they had been able to hire Taylor Swift’s fiancée. But it doesn’t appear to be in the cards for this season. Especially since injured quarterback Patrick Mahomes is making swift progress in his rehabilitation from a torn ACL and is expected to play this season.

Two years ago, the retirement of big brother Jason Kelce set off a bidding war, with virtually every NFL partner wining and dining the former Eagles center during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas. He eventually signed with ESPN, where he has become a staple of Monday Night Countdown.

A retirement announcement by Travis Kelce would have sparked a similar media competition. But it looks like the league partners will have to put away their checkbooks for another year. 

Ever since ex-Cowboys QB Tony Romo exploded onto the TV scene in 2017, NFL networks have prioritized hiring players and coaches fresh off the field. These potential color commentators and studio analysts are thought to have a better grasp on today’s pass-happy NFL than somebody who retired a decade ago.

Even without the 36-year-old Kelce in the mix, there are still potential new TV stars out there. 

Super Bowl-winning former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has long sat atop sports media’s most-wanted list for his ability to talk football in a pithy, entertaining way. He’d be the No. 1 target if he shows interest. But word on the street is he wants to take a year off.

Jameis Winston, Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, and Joe Flacco all fit the bill for what networks and streamers typically want: ex-QB’s. The entertaining Winston has the most upside. Wilson and Flacco boast Super Bowl rings. Cousins might be the most media-ready of the bunch. But all four want to play again in 2026.

That might force producers to think creatively about hiring announcers who’ve played other positions, such as Super Bowl-winning defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Steelers lineman Cam Heyward, and/or 49ers linebacker Fred Warner. All three auditioned on NBC Sports’ recent Super Bowl pregame show. Heyward says he wants to play this season. Ditto for Warner. But Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is retired. He’s drawing increasing interest.

“Donald is the wild card,” said one TV executive. “Could he be the next Howie Long? A defensive guy who becomes a TV star.”

There’s also Aaron Rodgers, who is always hinting about retirement. The 42-year-old, however, also hasn’t shut the door on playing another season. But even if he does, he insists he has no interest in a post-playing media career.