Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce set to be replaced by AFC rival as he opts out of 2026 Pro Bowl Games

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce led 2026 Pro Bowl Games fan voting by over 157K votes, but he plans to opt out.

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor

Jan 23, 2026 6:32 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce was selected for the Pro Bowl for the 11th consecutive season in 2025, but he won’t be heading to San Francisco, California, for that particular event.

Despite being the leading vote-getter for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games (420,383 votes), Kelce has officially dropped out and won’t be participating this year. On the back of a 6-11 season that saw the Chiefs miss the playoffs, Kelce actually had an opportunity to participate that wasn’t hindered by his team’s Super Bowl success. The NFL is sure to be disappointed, given that Kelce is a massive audience draw and the Pro Bowl has been one of its most disappointing events as of late.

The reason for Kelce’s decision remains a mystery, though he may address it on his New Heights podcast soon. Some may question whether this decision signals Kelce’s plans to retire following the 2025 NFL season, but that’s likely reading way too far into it.

The reality is that he’s coming off his age-36 NFL season after putting up 76 receptions, 851 yards, and five touchdowns. He’s played a full season’s worth of extra games already with the Chiefs’ postseason success dating back to 2018.

The likeliest explanation is that he’s taking this time to relax and recharge with his superstar fiancée before making the most important decision of his professional career.

Bills TE Dalton Kincaid to replace Chiefs TE Travis Kelce in 2026 Pro Bowl Games

Bills TE Dalton Kincaid is replacing Kelce in the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, marking his first career selection. Knowing Kelce, he’s sure to be excited for Kincaid, who has taken part in Kelce, Greg Olsen, and George Kittle’s “Tight End University” in the past. Kelce is all about pushing the tight end position and the game of football forward.

It’s unclear whether any other Chiefs players will drop out of the event. Patrick Mahomes, of course, won’t be selected as an alternate given his season-ending knee injury. He’s also not the only player selected or listed as an alternate to finish the 2025 NFL season on injured reserve.