Taylor Swift has greatly changed NFL viewership, bringing a new audience to the league’s broadcasts, but that hasn’t been her only impact on the NFL world.
NFL personality and former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce shared on Feb. 18 that his brother, Travis Kelce, has changed too since dating Swift.
Taylor Swift’s Impact on Travis Kelce From Jason’s Perspective
Winning multiple Super Bowls helps, but Travis appears to have an affinity for life that few other NFL players match. Jason suggested on the “Fitz & Whit” podcast with fellow former NFL players Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth that it’s something he’s always admired about his brother.
Jason, though, added that Travis has begun to show maturity since dating Swift.
“One of the things I love so much about Travis is that he never grew up,” Jason said. “He’s like Peter Pan, the lost boys. It’s changing. Sometimes you get people in your life that maybe get that out of you. Trav, he is growing up, but he has that youthful enthusiasm.”
Jason #Kelce talks about Travis' youthful enthusiasm but claims he's growing up.
-Via @fitzandwhit pic.twitter.com/co9OSkL81m
— Starcade Media (@StarcadeMediaKC) February 18, 2025
Travis has shown that youthful enthusiasm well into his thirties. The Chiefs tight end turned 35 in October 2024. He’s continued to be productive into his mid-thirties as well. Kelce had 97 catches for 823 yards and three touchdowns during 2024 while making his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl.
Kelce has begun to show signs of slowing down. He averaged a career-low 8.5 yards per catch in 2024, but he still usually shows up for big games.
In the AFC Divisional Round against the Houston Texans, Kelce had seven catches for a season-high 117 yards. He also had eight receptions and 84 receiving yards in his final regular season game on Christmas Day.
Kelce scored touchdowns in both contests.
Travis Kelce Facing Retirement Decision This Offseason
While Kelce has remained productive, he’s not the same dominant player on a week-to-week basis he was even two years ago.
There’s also little left for Kelce to accomplish in the NFL. He’s won three Super Bowls and made first-team All-Pro four times. Kelce was either a first- or second-team All-Pro player for seven consecutive seasons from 2016-22. He’s considered likely to become a sure-fire first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.
For those reasons, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kelce retires this offseason. He shared on an episode of his “New Heights” podcast that he is contemplating his future.
“I think I can play. It’s just whether or not I’m motivated or it’s the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility,” Kelce said. “I’m gonna take some time to figure it out.”
“OutKick Hot Mic” host Chad Withrow said that the Chiefs gave Kelce the date of March 14 as a soft deadline for him to decide his playing future.
March 14 is one day before the Chiefs are scheduled to pay Kelce an $11.5 million roster bonus. It makes sense that the Chiefs don’t want to pay the tight end a bonus if he decides not to play in 2025.
PFSN included Kelce on its list of players who could be cut this offseason. Kelce is set to have a $19.8 million cap hit in 2025, and the Chiefs could save more than $17 million against the cap with his release.
Should Kelce retire, Kansas City will save more than $17 million in cap space.