February 4 will bring a shift in scenery for Travis Kelce. Before the Waste Management Phoenix Open officially gets underway, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end will step into the spotlight at the Annexus Pro-Am at TPC Scottsdale, an event known for blending PGA Tour professionals with athletes and entertainers from outside golf. In a release, Chairman Jason Eisenberg confirmed just as much.

“Travis Kelce is one of the most accomplished and recognizable athletes of his generation,” tournament chairman Jason Eisenberg said in a press release. “His championship pedigree, competitive mindset, and star power make him a tremendous addition to the Annexus Pro-Am and an exciting presence for our fans during tournament week.”

The Phoenix Open has a reputation that fits its nickname, The People’s Open. Over the years, the crowd has been rowdy, drinks have flowed, and tension has spilled into moments you do not see at most tournaments. Therefore, the atmosphere is closer to a street party than a country club afternoon.

There, Kelce will tee it up alongside big names from different sports. That list includes former Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald, soccer icon Carli Lloyd, and Cowboys Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, safety Budda Baker, and linebacker Zaven Collins are also set to make their Pro-Am appearances, adding a strong local presence to the field.

Kelce will arrive fresh off his 13th season, all spent with the Chiefs. In 2025, he started 17 games and posted 76 catches for 851 yards and five scores. The three-time Super Bowl champion and 11-time Pro Bowler remains one of the league’s most accomplished tight ends, even as his role and workload continue to evolve late in his career. And there is a subplot fans cannot ignore.

Kelce watched McBride rewrite record books this season, including streaks for steady production. McBride either tied or surpassed multiple NFL marks, including the record for most consecutive games with at least five receptions. Now, seeing them side by side in the Valley of the Sun adds juice to the week.

Kelce’s commitment to the Pro-Am is firm, though there is no indication whether longtime partner Taylor Swift will be in attendance during tournament week. The focus, for now, remains on the event itself and Kelce’s growing presence beyond football.

However, this is not the only announcement fans got in recent days.

Travis Kelce makes a major career decision

For Travis Kelce, every move feels louder now, especially with retirement whispers hanging over the city of fountains. Even when the announcement is not related to the Chiefs, it still lands heavily. So what is it all about?

“Travis Kelce won’t be making his 11th Pro Bowl appearance this year,” the Kelce Brothers’ Instagram channel said in a recent post. “He pulled out of the event, and Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid has been named as his replacement.”

Kelce stepped away from what would have been another Pro Bowl nod after yet another productive run with the Chiefs. Although his season still met the standard fans expect, he is clearly slowing things down off the field. For now, he is using this window to think things through, and that pause keeps the retirement talk alive.

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Kelce earned his Pro Bowl Game spot through the league’s full voting process, mixing fan, player, and coach input. Once again, fans led the charge. He pulled the most fan votes in the league for the second straight year. That selection also tied him with Jason Witten for second-most Pro Bowl appearances by a tight end, still chasing Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez.

This decision poured more fuel on the retirement debate. Still, the story is not ending yet. For now, fans can enjoy seeing Kelce step into a different spotlight at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open on Feb. 4, while the next chapter quietly waits.