Al Michaels bored with Travis Kelce Chiefs retirement talk seeing Taylor Swift there

All great things must come to an end. Well at least for Travis Kelce, not his fiancée Taylor Swift.

The biggest storyline heading into a shockingly meaningless Christmas night AFC West showdown between the Kelce era three-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, already eliminated from NFL playoff contention, and the Denver Broncos, looking to to secure the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, was would this be the last home game for the seven-time All-Pro tight end.

It has been a storyline for Kelce, 35, all season long, and it certainly felt like each moment took on extra significance, from the pregame entrance, where the "New Heights" media mogul gave his patented arrow celebration, to certainly looking like his emotions almost got the better of him during the national anthem.

HELL OR A RUN:

Video of #Chiefs legendary tight end Travis Kelce during the national anthem has gone viral on social media.

Tonight is potentially the last game of Kelce’s iconic career at Arrowhead.

🫡🫡🫡 pic.twitter.com/4xZerPuv0w
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 26, 2025

The Chiefs fought valiantly, but eventual fell late, 20-13.

His global icon fiancée Swift, who made the Kelce brothers' "New Heights" the No.1 sports podcast for 2025 thanks to her guest appearance to announce "The Life of a Showgirl," which naturally also topped the charts for a record-setting 15th time, has had a much lower profile this season as the Chiefs sank into mediocrity.

But it's hard to hide when you're Taylor Swift.

Al Michaels speaks for a lot of casual NFL fans

Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift — Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift announce their engagement that reportedly took place in the Kansas City Chiefs superstar's backyard. | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

This was supposed to be the A-list, primetime Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football, so naturally the cameras had to find Swift rooting for her man.

TNF broadcasting play-by-play legend Al Michaels, 81, who often gets criticized for missing some of the magic that made him a household name, still has a biting and sarcastic humor.

Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce — Jan. 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Recording artist Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) react after the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

And well, like many NFL fans across America, he seemed bored with Swift and Kelce's retirement talk when the broadcast cut to the 36-year-old hit-making wealthiest female musician.

"So it's the final [Chiefs] home game of the season," Michaels said. "Taylor Swift is here. Will she be back here next year? I think it all depends what her man decides to do."

The quote alone doesn't give the tone justice. Even his booth partner, Kirk Herbstreit, chuckles towards the end.

"Will he, or won't he?," Michaels concluded. "To be determined."

Taylor Swift attends the last Chiefs home game of the season ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Jl02msaTDU
— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2025

Are we being too harsh to Kelce?

Kelce, also 36, has given the NFL and the Chiefs an amazing, future Pro Football Hall of Fame career. But it feels like it has gone from being so hard to say goodbye to, enough already.

Maybe we're projecting, at least this author.

Kelce has been oversaturated for awhile between his post-NFL media mogul aspirations and having the world's most famous fiancée, and that's not his fault.

The one. The only. 🏹 @tkelce #WPMOYChallenge pic.twitter.com/myQYnZsoXy
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 26, 2025

He's laughing all the way to the bank, also smartly investing in things like Garage Beer with his older brother Jason, which is now worth a reported $200 million. But when it comes to his retirement, not many casual fans are eagerly anticipating will he or won't he.

— Enjoy free dish of rich and fabulous players with The Athlete Lifestyle on SI —

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