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Travis Kelce will enter his 14th year in the NFL when he steps foot on the field with his beloved Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, which a close friend and fellow tight end said is a good thing for the league.
After the last few seasons, the question has arisen as to whether Kelce, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, still wants to play football. Each time, including this offseason, the 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro answered the bell with a resounding yes.
Greg Olsen, who Kelce works with along with his Tight End University summit every offseason, recently spoke with the Chiefs star. He told Pak Gazette Digital that he still sees that fire inside Kelce when he talked about putting on the pads for 2026, a season in which he will turn 37 years old.
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Kansas City’s Travis Kelce (87) watches during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
“I think just knowing Travis and how much he loves to play and how much he loves to compete and obviously the career he’s had as far as first-round Hall of Famers – he’s as close to a lock as you’re going to find – especially considering the tight end position takes a little bit longer for some guys even though they’re very deserving. I think the league is great to have him,” Olsen said. “I think the Chiefs are smart to want him back.
“I got to spend some time with him a couple of weeks ago and he’s very excited for a new season, for the team and for himself.”
The Chiefs reached an acceptable agreement with Kelce, whose contract expired after last season. Now in place for 2026, in addition to reuniting with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, the Chiefs are focused on the health of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who needed ACL surgery after being injured during a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
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“It’s one of the best tight end quarterback combinations of all time,” Olsen added, acknowledging one of the league’s best duos in recent memory. “So I’m happy for [Kelce] simply as a friend, as a football fan.
While it may be a bummer for Kelce to continually hear about retirement, Olsen also understands that Kelce has had the opportunity that many can’t say during a grueling football career: walking away on his own terms.
Olsen wants that for his friend in the end, whenever that may be.
“I’d love to see him come out whenever he wants to finish,” Olsen explained. “Very few guys are able to earn the right throughout their NFL career to say, ‘You know what, I’m done when I say I’m done.’ That’s not usually how it happens. Very few guys have that swan song, that perfect ending, walking away under the confetti and the Super Bowl. That’s the dream scenario that everyone hopes it will be.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) greets fans as he arrives before training camp at Missouri Western State University on July 28, 2023 in St. Joseph, Missouri. (Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports)
“But if there’s one guy who deserves to have his career end the right way because of everything he’s stood for, everything he’s done, how hard he’s worked, the success he’s had, individually and collectively, Trav is at the top of that list.”
Olsen, who serves as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports, is excited about the prospect of covering more games with Kelce and the Chiefs as he wants to enjoy the rest of his career.
And that’s a career defined by three Super Bowl titles and more than enough accolades to end up with a bronze bust in Canton one day.
“I never thought I’d see a day when people started saying, ‘Is there anyone better than Tony Gonzalez?’ Then along comes Gronk and that conversation. When all is said and done, Travis could be at the top of that list, which 10 years ago seemed crazy for someone to surpass some of those guys. His career is unsurpassed and the league is better with him playing,” Olsen concluded.
Announcer Greg Olsen watches before the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on September 7, 2025. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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While Olsen enjoyed 14 years in the NFL, his next chapter of the game will provide in-depth analysis for FOX Sports broadcasts throughout the year.
To help him do that in the offseason as he watches the NFL Draft and each franchise’s free agency picks, Olsen has been using NFL IQ, the new interactive hub created by the league and Amazon Web Services powered by Amazon Quick.
Ahead of the draft, NFL IQ transformed raw data from the NFL Combine and team needs, free agency moves made and more for this hub that gives fans access to key information and puts them in the shoes of front-office decision makers. Whether you’re a casual fan or a top analyst like Olsen, NFL IQ is an easy-to-use way to deepen your football knowledge, especially at a crucial roster-building time like the draft.
“This is the most educated fan base in NFL history, and I think that’s a good thing,” Olsen said.
Wide shot of NFL IQ, the league’s new interactive hub, and Amazon Web Services, powered by Amazon Quick. (NFL IQ)
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“Fans actually have a way to access exactly the same data, exactly the same information as the teams and everyone uses it for their own interest, whether it’s something casual or for people who really want to dive into the nitty-gritty.
“I think it’s a really fun toolkit for the wide range of people who touch the NFL space. I know firsthand, as a fan and now as a professional in the industry, that it’s a big part of my interaction with the game.”
