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Chiefs star Travis Kelce may already have a job lined up for if he retires after the 2025-26 season.

It’s no secret that Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs may retire after the 2025-26 season, and while it’s not a guarantee, he does celebrate a birthday on Sunday, October 5, and will be closer to 40 than 30. He and Swift were born in the same year, 1989, so they share some of those same experiences from their generation, which is another reason they seem just perfect for each other.

Now, if Kelce does retire after this season, it appears that he already has a gig waiting for him. He hosts a popular podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce, of course, called “New Heights,” so he’s a natural on the microphone and on camera, and that would be part of his new gig.

While Swift is celebrating the release of her “Life of a Showgirl” album, Kelce is still knee-deep in the Kansas City Chiefs‘ football season. The team has a record of 2-2 heading into their Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jags on Monday, October 6, and last weekend, they beat out the Baltimore Ravens and with a 37-20 win. So, if Kelce leaves after this season, at least one executive thinks he knows where he should land.

Kansas City Chiefs Star Travis Kelce May Have a New Gig

If Kelce says goodbye to the NFL after this season, ESPN wants him. According to ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, the network would definitely hire him in his post-Chiefs world.

“We’d love to talk to Travis when he’s ready,” told the Daily Mail. “One of our priorities at ESPN is audience expansion and that really means attracting a younger audience.”

“[Travis and Taylor Swift] are able to do that and they’ve been great for the sport…great for the game of football, great for the NFL, and they’ve been great for the enterprises that carry the NFL. We’re all excited to see what that’s like going forward,” he added.

This isn’t a surprise, because Kelce’s brother Jason, a former Eagles player, is employed by ESPN. Jason inked a three-year, $24 million contract with ESPN after retiring in 2023. It would totally make sense that Kelce would join the network, too.

Travis Kelce of the Chiefs Gives Back

When Kelce isn’t on the field or having fun with Swift, he’s giving back. His annual Kelce Car Jam auto show took place Friday, September 26, at Knuckleheads in Kansas City. Ahead of the appearance, he talked it up on his New Heights podcast.

“The Kelce Car Jam is back, baby. It’s this Friday,” Kelce said. “I’m going to break out some new old schools that I got. We got a 1990 Jeep Wrangler with the wood grain on the side.”

He added that “Proceeds benefit Eighty-Seven and Running, my foundation that helps out underserved youth in both the Kansas City area and back home in… the Cleveland surrounding area, two cities that I absolutely love. So, please show up. It’s going to be a blast.”

TikTok user Natalie Dutton posted a video of Kelce at the event, and his mom was there, too. “I appreciate the support you guys bring,” he said. “The stuff that they are doing over there at the Ignition Lab and Operation Breakthrough never (ceases) to amaze me more and more every single year.”

Seeing Kelce give back is one more reason for the Chiefs to be happy that he’s in Kansas City. Hopefully he has a good birthday on Sunday and then is ready to take on the Jags on Monday.

Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson