Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video drew an average of roughly 15 million viewers across its 15-game slate last season, and there’s reason to believe that figure could climb. With Kirk Herbstreit expected to step away in the near future, early discussions have pointed to Travis Kelce as a possible successor following his playing career. At least, that is what The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand has suggested.

“Travis Kelce appears as if he will try to play another season before potentially trying broadcasting, where he would like to call games,” Marchand wrote in his latest article. “Kelce could pick up at least $15 million per year as a studio presence.

“If Prime Video moves on from Herbstreit, it could look at the well-respected Greg Olsen of Fox and [J.J.] Watt, but the wild cards are Kelce and Sean McVay.”

That projection isn’t random. Marchand has pointed out that the NFL television landscape could be heading toward another major shake-up, similar to the 2022 media frenzy. That year, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman left FOX for ESPN in a five-year, combined $165 million deal. Tom Brady signed a massive $375 million contract with FOX. CBS already secured Tony Romo at $180 million. And Al Michaels moved to Amazon to headline the TNF.

But now that Michaels, 81, could retire soon, Herbstreit’s Prime Video contract runs through the 2026 season, so TNF on Prime would need a new face.

Buck and Aikman’s ESPN deals expire after the 2027 season, which culminates with ESPN’s Super Bowl next February. Meanwhile, streaming platforms like Amazon, YouTube, and Netflix may soon require their own full-time broadcast crews as the league expands its media footprint. That’s where Kelce becomes relevant.

Traditionally, the color analyst chair has been filled by either former players or seasoned broadcasters with established on-air resumes. Kelce would fit in. His widespread appeal, expansive media footprint, particularly through his podcast, and crossover celebrity status could align seamlessly with the more entertainment-driven tone of Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video.

The current expectation is that he will play the 2026 season with the Kansas City Chiefs. But there’s far less certainty beyond that. Marchand believes Kelce would prefer a booth role, calling games rather than sitting in a studio, and Prime Video stands out as a logical destination. And if he does enter broadcasting, he would join his brother, Jason Kelce, who transitioned to ESPN after retiring. None of this is official, however.

Between the ‘New Height’ podcast and Travis Kelce’s broader pop-culture presence, amplified by his relationship with Taylor Swift, he brings reach that networks value. For instance, after Kelce and Swift’s engagement, the NFL player’s jersey sales witnessed a 200% spike. Viewers would certainly love to know his take on games.

But more importantly, broadcasting is something he would love to do someday.

“I want to broadcast when I’m done playing,” he said in 2024. “I want to be right here and tell them about the game, the old ball coach, ladies and gentlemen. I want to do that. I want to be the talking head that calls the games.”

Ultimately, though, everything hinges on Kelce’s football timeline. If he plays in 2026, the earliest realistic broadcasting move would be after the season after that.

The Chiefs have taken a different approach with Travis Kelce

It’s been nearly two months since the Chiefs closed out the 2025 season and Travis Kelce last took the field. Yet the franchise is still waiting for a definitive answer from its longtime tight end: Will he return for 2026 or walk away? Either way, the Chiefs have to prepare for life after Kelce. And general manager Brett Veach made it clear that the organization is planning for both outcomes: to play with or without him.

“We’ve taken a different approach with Travis. We’ve kind of prepared for either scenario,” Veach said. “Coach had mentioned on Friday that he’s had great dialogue with Travis on our end, myself, [assistant general manager] Chris Shea, Travis’ crew, we’ve had some good dialogue there.

“I’m sure we’re going to see him here, just like we will all the other players’ agents, and we’ll continue that dialogue. Travis is the best. He’s an icon. Hopefully, he comes back, and we’ll just kind of let that process play out.”

Veach, head coach Andy Reid, and virtually everyone inside the building would welcome Kelce back. But if he does return, the next question becomes practical: what would that return look like? Kelce is set to hit free agency, which means he would need a new contract to suit up in 2026.

The Chiefs created some financial flexibility after restructuring Patrick Mahomes’ contract and releasing Mike Danna, easing a cap situation that once had them more than $57 million over. Still, projections suggest a one-year deal for Kelce would likely cost around $10 million.

Whether that ultimately happens remains uncertain. What is clear, though, is that Veach and the Chiefs are prepared to offer a one-year deal if Kelce decides he has one more season left.