Stephen A. Smith makes major prediction on Travis Kelce's future plans while hinting Chiefs TE's retirement timeline

Stephen A. Smith said on Tuesday that Travis Kelce will walk away from football after this season. The ESPN analyst laid out his case for why the Kansas City Chiefs tight end should call it quits.

He brought up the tight end's engagement to Taylor Swift as a factor in his prediction.

"I think that you could see the handwriting that's on the wall," Smith said, via People. "The guy is so talented and there are so many other things that he could do outside of football that now would be the time for him to step away."

NFL: Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs - Source: Imagn

Smith stressed that he doesn't have insider knowledge; however, he made a guess about Kelce based on what he's seen.

Stephen A. Smith give retirement advice to Travis Kelce

NFL: Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs - Source: Imagn

Stephen A. Smith pointed to Travis Kelce's engagement with Taylor Swift when explaining why retirement makes sense.

"Obviously he has a beautiful lady in his life, where there's a lot of good things for him to go home to," Smith said. "And so, because of that, I think the combination of all of those things."

Smith also gave a prediction about Kelce's post-football career. The ESPN personality said television networks would jump at the chance to hire him.

"He would instantly make it in television," Smith said. "Instantly. He'll have a job waiting for him the second he's finished. The second he's finished, he'll have a job waiting for him because that's just what he brings to the table."

The Chiefs (6-7) could miss the playoffs for the first time since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018. Kansas City faces elimination from postseason contention with a loss to the Chargers on Sunday.

Kelce told the Chiefs that he was returning for the 2025 season less than a week after Philadelphia beat Kansas City in the Super Bowl. His contract ends after this campaign and he hasn't said whether he'll play in 2026.