Some of the National Football League's more charismatic and/or accomplished players call themselves fortunate enough to extend their relationship with and relevance to the sport with a transition into a media role shortly after hanging up their cleats. But even among those with the personality and expertise to handle the demands, it's hard to think of any current NFL star who would be better at it than Travis Kelce.
Kelce still has plenty of football left in him, so no one should start writing a new chapter just yet. Although he will turn 37 years old in October, Kelce announced his decision to return for another season and even intimated that there might be more on the table after that. He finished with 76 catches for 851 yards and 5 touchdowns, earning his 11th Pro Bowl nod in the process.
But it is clear that Kelce is in his twilight, however that is defined, and thoughts of what's next for the Kansas City Chiefs tight end are circling overhead. Former Chiefs offensive lineman Kyle Long believes Kelce would be ideal for the sort of transition he's made from the field to the studio for CBS Sports following a 7-year career with the Chicago Bears from 2013-19 (and an attempt to return with the Chiefs in '21 before an injury sidelined him).
Travis Kelce would be a "gold mine" for any broadcast partner, but his world is already much bigger than that.
Long has been a consistent (and very strong) media presence since 2022 after first getting a taste of the work in 2020 before deciding to sign with K.C. He recently spoke on The Jim Rome Show about Kelce's future off the field, about both how good Kelce would be and the potential considerations of such a shift.
"I can’t speak for Travis. I can only speak from the outside looking in at somebody who has been through this transition into media, and let’s face it, Travis is media now. He’s more than that. He is the media. And he’s going to have to figure out what fits for him," said Long.
"That’s something my wife Kate and I have had to navigate in the five to six years I’ve been out of the National Football League—balancing our relationship, me being a father, being a sibling to my two brothers, and a kid to my parents.
"He’s going to figure out what works for him, and I’m sure they’re going to make it worth the deal, wherever the heck he is, and whoever gets him is getting a gold mine, because nobody wakes up and rolls out of bed and has an easier day in terms of just being a good guy than Travis Kelce."
Long is right. Kelce would be a "gold mine" for numerous reasons that are obvious, beginning with a first-ballot Hall of Fame resume and ending with his status as a globally recognized name. But that's also what might make it challenging for a single broadcast partner to reel him in. Kelce is going to have plenty of media opportunities that transcend the sport once he's done playing football.
Even as he's playing for the Chiefs this season, Kelce's also leaning into multiple business ventures, charity projects, celebrity appearances, and more, so it's not as if the Chiefs legend will be looking to fill some void like many players after retirement. Kelce's world is already much, much larger than the sport of football, which means it will take of gold to convince the "gold mine" to sign up.
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