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.
In Other News...
NC State's Bowl Path Suddenly Looks Less Safe Than Fans Expected
NC States season has drifted in a direction few around the program probably expected back in August. After six games, the Wolfpack sit at 3-3 overall and 1-2 in ACC play, and the underlying numbers have caught up with the slide. ESPNs SP+ now has NC State down at No. 78, a sharp fall from its preseason No. 48 spot, with the defense doing most of the damage as the stretch run approaches.
The good news is that the path to a bowl is still there, at least on paper, with SP+ favoring the Wolfpack in three of their final six games. Stanford and California look like the best chances to bank another win, but the margin for error is getting thin with Duke, Florida State and North Carolina all looming as tougher asks. What looked like a manageable finish a few weeks ago now carries a lot more stress, and NC State will need the defense to steady itself quickly if it wants to keep its postseason hopes comfortably alive. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Gainey Is Asking NC State Fans To Buy In Fast
Justin Gainey has stepped into the NC State job with a familiar face and a clear message, leaning on his background as an alum and former player while trying to steady the program after Will Wades departure. He has talked about toughness and culture as the foundation for what comes next, and the early read around the program is that this is a team likely to land in the middle of the ACC pack this season.
For fans, the challenge is buying into a rebuild that is being shaped more by fit than flash. Gainey has been focused on putting together a roster that matches his values, and the pieces coming in have not been the kind that usually dominate portal chatter. Even so, the real test may be whether the Wolfpack can quickly turn that approach into something that feels durable, because there is still plenty of roster work and identity-setting left to do. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Still Has One Real Chance To Change This Season
NC States season has settled into the kind of middle ground that keeps both hope and frustration alive. At 3-3 through six games, the Wolfpack have already collected a few results that showed what the team can be, while also leaving behind losses that make the overall picture harder to read. Through it all, quarterback CJ Bailey has continued to look like one of the reasons this team still has something to play for, especially after bouncing back from an early setback and helping steady the offense.
The path to a turnaround is still there, even if it is becoming narrower by the week. A 10-win season is still in reach, which alone would change the feel of the year in Raleigh, and the ACC title race has not fully disappeared either. But NC States standing in the league means the margin for error is thin, and the Wolfpack would need a lot to break their way to make the conference championship conversation more than a distant thought. [Read more 🡒]