With speculation about retirement at an all-time high, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce might already be set up for success if he does decide to hang up his cleats. One of the most marketable stars of his time, Kelce sure knows a thing or two about turning fame into business. Or if we could be more specific, turning his appeal as a football player to make a rightful place in pop culture.

What started with lending his voice in the New Heights podcast, where his larger-than-life personality shone through, might end up with the tight end on our TV screens every week.

“Travis Kelce appears as if he will try to play another season before potentially trying broadcasting, where he would like to call games but probably could pick up at least $15 million per year as a studio presence,” The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand wrote.

Notably, the Chiefs’ tight end has been vocal about a career in the media. He has already appeared as an actor on the FX series Grotesquerie and in the recent Happy Gilmore sequel, clearly evidencing his love for the performative arts. But, while we’re not sure if any more movie cameos are on the way or if Kelce even wants to do it, one thing’s for sure: He’s made up his mind about broadcasting.

“I want to broadcast when I’m done playing,” the tight end said on one of his podcast’s episodes. “I want to be the talking head that calls the games.”

While the $15 million figure doesn’t come close to Tom Brady’s massive $375 million Fox deal, it appears that this opportunity as a broadcaster will pay Kelce more than his next possible contract in the league.

In 2024, Kelce signed a two-year, $17.125 million per year deal with the Chiefs that made him the highest-paid tight end in the league in both total money and per-year salary at the time.

Now at 36, it’s unlikely that he would be able to secure a similar contract despite recording 76 catches for 851 yards with five touchdowns, which ranked him sixth in receptions and fourth in receiving yards among tight ends during the season. Furthermore, the Chiefs are facing a salary cap crunch, which prompted them to once again restructure QB1 Patrick Mahomes’ extension and clear $43.56 million in cap space for 2026 by converting $54.45 million of his 2026 salary into a signing bonus.

Hence, a bigger deal for their TE1, who is nearing his retirement, may not be on the table. With this predicament, Travis Kelce finds himself in an interesting place; he could either announce his retirement and earn big television dollars or come back for one last ride and help the Chiefs bounce back after a 6-11 playoff-less season.

With both options very much on the table, the Chiefs’ GM Brett Veach has a “different approach” planned for the Travis Kelce situation.

Chiefs GM reveals plans for Travis Kelce’s future in Kansas

With Travis Kelce’s future remaining uncertain, GM Brett Veach confirmed that the Chiefs’ front office is ready for all possibilities this offseason. Head coach Andy Reid recently stated in a media interaction that Kelce and the team have been in talks. General manager Brett Veach provided the media with an update on the ongoing discussions at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

“We’ve taken a different approach with Travis. We’ve kind of prepared for either scenario,” Veach said at the Combine, keeping in mind that Kelce still hasn’t reached a particular decision. “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.

Whether Travis Kelce decides to retire or return for one more season, his future looks bright both on and off the field. The Chiefs and their star tight end will work together to figure out the best path forward for both sides.