Travis Kelce might not have taken home the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award on Thursday night, but that didn’t stop him from turning heads at the league’s annual Honors ceremony. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, known as much for his bold fashion statements as his dominance on the field, made a brief appearance in a snakeskin-style ensemble that had social media buzzing.
Though he skipped the red carpet, Kelce still managed to make an impression with his flashy outfit and signature shades. Fans online were quick to weigh in with their usual mix of humor and hot takes.
One joked that Kelce was impossible to miss in a crowd, while another poked fun at the look, saying he resembled someone who might run a knockoff cologne shop. And of course, someone had to bring big brother Jason Kelce into the mix, suggesting the elder Kelce looked sharp while Travis... not so much.
Noticeably absent from the event was Kelce’s fiancée, Taylor Swift, even as other players arrived with their partners in tow. It was a solo night for the All-Pro tight end, and while he was honored as the Chiefs’ nominee for the Man of the Year award, the league-wide honor ultimately went to Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner.
The appearance came amid growing speculation about Kelce’s football future. After a frustrating 2025 season that saw Kansas City miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014, questions have swirled about whether Kelce will return for another run. While he’s yet to make a public decision, reports suggest he’s leaning toward coming back for one final season - and the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy could be a major factor.
Kelce thrived under Bieniemy in the past, putting up some of the best numbers of his career and helping the Chiefs to multiple Super Bowl titles. That kind of familiarity and success is hard to walk away from, even after a couple of down years.
Kelce reportedly considered retirement after the 2024 season, which ended in a Super Bowl loss to the Eagles. Now, after another season of underwhelming production, retirement talk has resurfaced - but so has the possibility of one last ride.
Adding fuel to the speculation fire was a cryptic tweet from Patrick Mahomes on Wednesday. The Chiefs quarterback tagged Kelce with a trio of dartboard emojis and a fired-up “Let’s go!!!!!” - which immediately sent fans into a frenzy.
Was this the sign they’d been waiting for? A hint that the Mahomes-Kelce connection would be back for 2026?
Turns out, not quite. Mahomes was actually celebrating Kelce’s performance on the golf course, not the gridiron.
Kelce was in Arizona participating in the Waste Management Phoenix Open pro-am, and he delivered a highlight-reel moment on the tournament’s iconic 16th hole. With a packed crowd watching from the raucous stadium-style stands, Kelce stuck his tee shot to within a foot of the pin.
The crowd erupted, and Kelce celebrated with an air guitar solo and high-fives all around. Even Swift gave the shot her stamp of approval with a like on Instagram.
So while his football future remains up in the air, Kelce is still making noise - whether it’s with his wardrobe, his wedge game, or his ever-growing off-field presence. Chiefs fans will have to wait a little longer for clarity, but if history tells us anything, Travis Kelce doesn’t do anything quietly.