Travis Kelce will enter year 14 in the NFL when he steps foot on the gridiron with his beloved Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, which a close friend and fellow tight end said is a good thing for the league.

After recent seasons, the question of whether Kelce, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, still wants to play football has come up. Each time, including this offseason, the 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro has answered the bell with a resounding yes.

Greg Olsen, whom Kelce works alongside with their Tight End University summit each offseason, spoke to the Chiefs star recently. He told Fox News Digital that he still sees that fire inside Kelce when he talked about strapping the pads on for 2026 – a season in which he will turn 37.

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“I think just getting to know Travis and just how much he loves playing the game and how much he loves to compete and obviously the career that he’s had as far as first-ballot Hall of Famers – he’s as close to a lock as you’ll find – especially considering the tight end position takes some guys a little bit longer even though they’re super deserving. I think the league is great to have him,” Olsen said. “I think the Chiefs are smart to want him back.

“I got to spend some time with him a couple weeks ago, and he’s super excited for a fresh season, for the team, for himself.”

The Chiefs reached an acceptable deal with Kelce, whose contract was up after this past season. Now that he’s in place for 2026, as well as a reunion with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, the Chiefs are focused on the health of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who needed ACL surgery after injuring it during a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

GREG OLSEN’S ADVICE FOR NFL DRAFT FIRST-ROUND PICKS ON HANDLING HIGH EXPECTATIONS

“It’s one of the best tight end-quarterback combinations of all time,” Olsen added, acknowledging one of the league’s best duos in recent memory. “So, I’m happy for [Kelce] just as a friend, as a fan of football.”

While it may be a nuisance for Kelce to continuously hear about retirement, Olsen also understands that Kelce has had the opportunity not many can say they do during a grueling football career – walking away on your own terms.

Olsen wants that for his friend in the end, whenever that may be.

“I’d love to see him go out when he wants to be done,” Olsen explained. “Very few guys are able to earn that right throughout their NFL career to say, ‘You know what? I’m done when I say I’m done.’ That’s not typically how it goes. Very few guys have that swan song, perfect ending, walking off under the confetti and the Super Bowl. That’s a dream scenario everyone hopes will be them.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) greets fans as he arrives prior to training camp at Missouri Western State University on July 28, 2023 in St. Joseph, Missouri. (Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports)

“But if there is a guy who deserves his career to end the right way because of everything he’s stood for, everything he’s done, how hard he’s worked, the success he’s had, individually and collectively, Trav’s at the top of that list.”

Olsen, who serves as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports, is excited for the prospect of covering more games featuring Kelce and the Chiefs, as he wants to enjoy the remainder of his career.

And that’s a career defined by three Super Bowl titles, and more than enough accolades to end up with a bronze bust in Canton one day.

“I never thought I’d see a day where people started saying, ‘Is anyone better than Tony Gonzalez?’ Then, Gronk comes along and that conversation. When it’s all said and done, Travis might be at the top of that list, which 10 years ago sounded crazy that anyone would surpass some of those guys. His career is second to none, and the league is better off with him playing,” Olsen ended.

Broadcaster Greg Olsen looks on before the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on Sept. 7, 2025. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

INSIDE THE FRONT OFFICE MIND

While Olsen enjoyed 14 years in the NFL, his next chapter of the game is providing keen analysis for FOX Sports broadcasts during the year.

To help him do that in the offseason while looking at the NFL Draft and free agency pickups by each franchise, Olsen has been using NFL IQ, the new interactive hub created by the league and Amazon Web Services powered by Amazon Quick.

Ahead of the draft, NFL IQ transformed raw data from the NFL Combine and team needs, free agency moves made and more for this hub that provides fans access to key insights and puts them in the shoes of front office decision makers. Whether it’s the casual fan or a top analyst like Olsen, NFL IQ is an easy-to-use way to deepen football knowledge, especially at a crucial roster-building time like the draft is.

“This is the most educated fan base in NFL history, and I think that’s a good thing,” Olsen said.

General shot of NFL IQ, the new interactive hub from the league and Amazon Web Services, powered by Amazon Quick. (NFL IQ)

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“Fans actually have a way to access the exact same data, the exact same information that the teams and everyone are using for their own interest, whether it’s something casual or for people who really want to dive into the nitty gritty.

“I think it’s a really fun set of tools for the wide array of people who touch the NFL space. I know firsthand as a fan, and now a professional in the industry, it’s a huge part of my interaction of the game.”

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Big East commissioner Val Ackerman will retire from her position this summer, the league announced on Monday.

Ackerman, 66, has been in charge of the league for the past 13 years, watching on as men’s and women’s basketball won a combined eight national championships during her tenure. She also oversaw the Big East’s transition during realignment.

“It’s been an extraordinary honor for me to serve as the Commissioner of one of the most prestigious and storied organizations in college sports,” Ackerman said. “I want to thank our Presidents for entrusting me with this one-of-a-kind leadership opportunity and for supporting the investments needed to maintain the Big East’s stature and meet our schools’ high competitive and academic standards.

“With our long-term business deals securely in place and knowing we have strong, focused leadership on our campuses, I am confident that the future of the conference, and Big East basketball in particular, is very bright, and I believe the time is right for me to hand off the baton.”

Ackerman, who was previously the founding president of the WNBA, the president of USA Basketball and the U.S. representative for men’s and women’s basketball on the central board of FIBA, took over as the Big East’s commissioner in the summer 2013. At the time, the league was in the midst of losing several of its marquee programs to other conferences at the height of realignment. Syracuse, Pitt, Notre Dame and Louisville left for the ACC; Rutgers went to the Big Ten; West Virginia left for the Big 12; and UConn, Cincinnati and South Florida opted for the AAC.

The remaining seven members — DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova — formed the new Big East, with Butler, Creighton and Xavier joining to make it a 10-team league in March 2013. Ackerman then spearheaded negotiations to bring back UConn in the summer of 2020. The Huskies have won a combined three national championships between men’s and women’s basketball since returning to the Big East.

“Speaking on behalf of all the Big East Presidents, we announce Commissioner Val Ackerman’s retirement with a tinge of sadness and deep gratitude,” said St. John’s President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, chair of the Big East board of directors. “When we re-founded the Big East in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with the power football conferences and compete with the country’s best. We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman. Val has leveraged our partnerships with FOX Sports and Madison Square Garden to create a platform that has produced five basketball national champions (four men’s and one’s women’s) in the past decade, and she has built a strong foundation for future success. She leaves big shoes to fill.”

Ackerman received the John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

A national search for Ackerman’s successor will begin immediately, the league said.

It’s that time of the year in college basketball!

Some players are declaring for the NBA Draft, others are entering the transfer portal — and some are doing both.

Here’s who has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, as of April 10:

Florida C Rueben Chinyelu (source) 

Michigan F Yaxel Lendeborg (source)

Washington F Hannes Steinbach (source)

Baylor G Cameron Carr (source)

North Carolina F Caleb Wilson (source)

Arkansas G Meleek Thomas (source)

Iowa State F Milan Momcilovic (source)

Baylor G Tounde Yessoufou (source)

Stanford G Ebuka Okorie (source)

Houston F Chris Cenac Jr. (source)

Texas G Dailyn Swain (source)

Alabama G Labaron Philon Jr. (source)

Arizona G Jaden Bradley (source)

Louisville G Ryan Conwell (source)

Butler F Michael Ajayi (source)

Elon G Chandler Cuthrell (source)

North Carolina F Caleb Wilson (source)

Texas Tech G Christian Anderson (source)

Louisville G Mikel Brown Jr. (source)