Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce may be building toward a second act just as lucrative as the one he’s living now.
The action isn’t on the field this time. It’s in the rapidly shifting world of NFL broadcasting, where former players are landing massive contracts and a few of the biggest jobs are suddenly open.
It started with news that former CBS lead analyst Tony Romo, once the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, would be leaving the network after an incident that allegedly involved alcohol before the season in Wisconsin. That move created a vacancy, and former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman now appears to be a candidate to fill it when he leaves CBS, according to rumors that have circulated for several days.
Another major opening is also taking shape. Former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olson is apparently heading out at Fox, which would leave top spots available at CBS, ESPN and Prime Video.
The Prime Video position is the one drawing the most attention. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and others have reported that Kirk Herbstreit has already signed a contract extension that functions more like a placeholder until Amazon can see who else becomes available.
That’s where Kelce enters the picture. The Chiefs star is having an excellent season, but the source material frames this as almost certainly his last go-round. Florio has reported that Kelce has been “sniffing around” the Prime Video opening.
The fit is obvious enough. Kelce already appears semi-weekly with his brother, former offensive lineman Jason Kelce, on their New Heights podcast, where the two talk football and celebrity. That kind of easy, natural on-air presence makes him a strong candidate for broadcasting work once his playing days are over.
And while Kelce won’t be short on money, another high-paying role would still make sense when he hangs up his cleats.
There’s also another factor networks can’t ignore: his recent wedding to pop star Taylor Swift. Her appearances in a private box at Chiefs home games have helped drive huge ratings, and any network would love even an indirect tie to the billionaire pop star.
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