It is a strange time to be a Kansas City Chiefs fan. For the first time since 2014, the playoffs are happening, and the red and gold are nowhere to be found. The 2025 season was, to put it bluntly, a total disaster. Patrick Mahomes is sidelined with a brutal ACL tear, and the team finished a dismal 6-11. So, naturally, everyone has one question: where is Travis Kelce today and is he finally hanging up the cleats?
Honestly, if you're looking for him right now, don't check Arrowhead Stadium.
As of January 16, 2026, Travis Kelce is currently in Los Angeles. He was spotted just a few days ago grabbing dinner at Funke in Beverly Hills with his fiancée, Taylor Swift. They looked relaxed—or as relaxed as you can look when paparazzi are tracking your every move. It’s a massive shift from his usual January routine of grinding through the AFC divisional rounds. This year, the grind has been replaced by date nights and business meetings.
Life in the "Offseason" (Or is it Retirement?)
The rumors are flying thick and fast. People are looking at his age—36—and that emotional exit from the field after the Week 18 loss to the Raiders and assuming the worst.
Kelce hasn't officially said the "R-word" yet. On the latest episode of New Heights, he joked that he is "officially jobless," but then quickly clarified that he’s just taking time to be a human being. He’s been seen sporting a fresh haircut in LA, likely getting ready for a blitz of media appearances.
There’s a lot of noise about a massive deal with Netflix. Sources say he’s in talks to become an exclusive broadcast sports correspondent. Basically, he’s setting up the safety net. If his body says "no more" to 250-pound linebackers, he’s ready to jump into the booth.
Why this time feels different
In previous years, Kelce would laugh off retirement talk. He’d say he’d play until the wheels fell off. But with Mahomes' 2026 status in doubt due to that injury, the math has changed. Why come back for a rebuild when you have a podcast that’s #1 on Spotify and a wedding to plan?
Speaking of the wedding, that’s the other reason he’s in LA. While reports claim the wedding planning is "on hold" to avoid stress, the couple is clearly savoring their engagement. They’ve been together for over two years now, and the world is basically waiting for the June 13 date that's been whispered about in every tabloid from London to New York.
Where is Travis Kelce today in terms of his career?
If you want to track his movements, you have to look at his business portfolio. He isn't just a football player anymore; he’s a brand.
- The Podcast: New Heights remains his home base. He and Jason just announced a new book, No Dumb Questions: And All of Our Dumbest Answers, set to drop in June.
- The Steakhouse: 1587 Prime, his venture with Mahomes, is still a massive hit in KC, even if the team isn't winning.
- The Screen: Between Grotesquerie and hosting Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, he’s proven he can handle a camera.
Eli Manning recently gave some solid advice on the situation. He mentioned that as you get older, you have to work twice as hard for half the results. You wake up one day and the "itch" to train just isn't there. Kelce is currently in that "waiting period." He’s waiting to see if that itch returns when the Super Bowl hype starts next month.
The Tight End University Factor
One big indicator that he’s not quite done with the sport is his involvement with Tight End University. He just announced a high-profile event for Super Bowl weekend. Even though he won't be playing in the Big Game, he’s making sure he’s the center of the conversation in New Orleans.
It’s a smart play. It keeps him relevant to the NFL while he weighs his options.
What happens next?
The Chiefs have already started signing younger tight ends to the roster—a clear sign they are preparing for a world without #87. Whether he comes back for a "one last dance" in 2026 or pivots entirely to Hollywood, we’ll likely know by March when free agency and team workouts loom.
👉 See also: Connie Britton Daughter: What Most People Get Wrong
For now, the man is just living. He’s eating at Beverly Hills hotspots, planning a future with the biggest pop star on the planet, and probably enjoying the fact that he doesn't have a bruise on his ribs for the first time in a decade.
If you're trying to keep up with his official status, your best bet is to keep an eye on his next podcast drop. He’s always been the type to break his own news rather than letting a reporter like Schefter do it for him.
To stay ahead of the curve, you should watch the New Heights YouTube channel for the next episode. Usually, these drop on Wednesdays, and with the "jobless" jokes he's been making, the next one is bound to have some nuggets of truth about his 2026 roster status. You can also monitor the Netflix press room for any official announcements regarding his broadcasting future.