Stephen A. Smith is weighing in on Travis Kelce’s future in the NFL, and how life with Taylor Swift may shape it. 

In a new conversation with PEOPLE Magazine, the sports commentator shared his belief that the Kansas City Chiefs star could be nearing retirement.

“I expected him to be back,” Smith said, adding that he did not anticipate the tight end going out “like that” after such a lackluster game.

For those unversed, Speculation about Kelce’s potential retirement first sparked in 2025 following the Chiefs’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.

“I think that you could see the handwriting that’s on the wall,” Smith continued.

“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.”

Smith emphasized that he does not “know anything” about Kelce’s official plans and is merely “speculating” based on observation. He then acknowledged Kelce’s relationship with Swift, 35, as another possible factor.

“I will tell you that that’s what I think he’s going to do,” he said of a potential retirement. 

“Obviously he has a beautiful lady in his life, where there’s a lot of good things for him to go home to,” he said referring to the Eras Tour hitmaker.

“And so, because of that, I think the combination of all of those things,” he concluded.