ESPN Analyst Urges Kansas City Chiefs to Part Ways with Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce's future with the Kansas City Chiefs remains uncertain as he has yet to announce his plans for the upcoming season. However, ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum believes it may be time for the franchise to sever ties with the iconic tight end.

“I would move on from Travis Kelce and let me tell you why,” Tannenbaum stated during a February 18 segment on SportsCenter. “When you’re in the front office, you have to project what a player is going to do, not what they’ve done.”

He elaborated, “I’ve made that mistake countless times in my career and while Travis Kelce is undoubtedly a first ballot Hall of Famer, an honest evaluation of his 2025 performance shows that his best days are behind him.”

At 36 years old, Kelce has spent all 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Chiefs, securing three Super Bowl titles and earning 11 Pro Bowl selections. However, his recent performance raises questions; the 2025 season marked the third consecutive year he failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards, and his 76 receptions were the lowest since 2015.

Despite these statistics, he recorded an impressive 11.2 yards per reception, his best since 2022, and participated in all 17 regular-season games.

Kelce contemplated retirement following last season but opted to return after the Chiefs' disappointing Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, with Kansas City coming off a surprising losing season and quarterback Patrick Mahomes recovering from ACL surgery, the situation is more complex.

“I’ve got so much love for this team, this organization and the people here,” Kelce expressed after the Chiefs’ season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders in January. “I’ll spend some time with them, go through exit meetings tomorrow and get close to the family and figure things out.”

His passion for football is evident, yet his return hinges on whether he feels capable of meeting his own high expectations. “If my body can heal up and rest up and I can feel confident that I can go out there and give it another 18, 20, 21-week run, I think I would do it in a heartbeat,” he shared during a January episode of his “New Heights” podcast with brother Jason Kelce. “Right now it’s just finding that answer and seeing how the body feels after this game.”

As Kelce weighs his options, sources indicate he may have opportunities beyond football. Reports suggest discussions between him and Netflix are “well underway” for him to become their exclusive broadcast sports correspondent.

Additionally, another insider revealed that Kelce has engaged in conversations about retirement and what his next career move might entail if he decides to step away from the game.

If he chooses to return, support from the Chiefs' front office is assured. Team owner Clark Hunt expressed confidence in Kelce's abilities during an interview on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football in January, stating, “There’s no doubt in my mind that he can still play.”

“We’re trying to be respectful and let him have the time that he needs to make a decision,” Hunt added.