Stephen A. Smith considers Travis Kelce’s future in the N.F.Land how life with Taylor Swift can shape this.
In a new conversation with PEOPLE Magazinethe sports commentator shared his belief that the Kansas City Chiefs star was about to retire.
“I expected him to be back,” Smith said, adding that he didn’t expect the tight end to be out “like that” after such a lackluster game.
For those unfamiliar, speculation about Kelce’s possible retirement first arose in 2025, following the Chiefs’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
“I think you could see the handwriting on the wall,” Smith continued.
“The man is so talented and there are so many other things he could do outside of football that now would be the time for him to step away.”
Smith emphasized that he “knows nothing” about Kelce’s official plans and is merely “speculating” based on observations. He then acknowledged Kelce’s relationship with Swift, 35, as another possible factor.
“I’ll tell you, I think he’s going to do that,” he said of a possible retirement.
“Obviously he has a beautiful lady in his life that he can bring a lot of good things home to,” he said, referring to the Eras tour hitmaker.
“And that’s why I think the combination of all those things is it,” he concluded.
