Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has once again proven his enduring popularity across the NFL landscape, finishing as the top overall vote getter in fan balloting for the 2026 Pro Bowl.
It marks the second consecutive year that Kelce has led all players in fan votes, underscoring his sustained star power even as the Chiefs endure one of the most difficult seasons of the Andy Reid era.
According to the NFL, fan voting concluded last Monday, with full AFC and NFC rosters set to be announced Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET. Those rosters are determined by a combination of fan, player and coach voting.
Kelce topped a list that also included Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and Bears safety Kevin Byard.
If Kelce is named to the AFC roster, it would be his 11th career Pro Bowl selection. That milestone would tie him with former Dallas Cowboys star Jason Witten for the second most Pro Bowl appearances by a tight end in NFL history, trailing only Tony Gonzalez.
Last season, Kelce was voted in but ultimately did not participate, as Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith replaced him while Kelce prepared for Super Bowl LIX.
This year, however, the context is markedly different. Kansas City has already been eliminated from playoff contention, entering Week 17 with a 6-9 record and losses in six of its last seven games.
The Chiefs’ season unraveled further in mid-December when quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL against the Los Angeles Chargers. Backup Gardner Minshew was later lost to a knee injury in a Week 16 defeat to the Tennessee Titans.
Kelce’s production stands out amid a lost season
Despite the team’s struggles, Kelce‘s on-field production has rebounded. He has totaled 803 receiving yards, the third most among all NFL tight ends, and is averaging 11.8 yards per catch, his best mark since 2022.
Those numbers represent a clear improvement over his 2024 campaign, when he finished with 823 yards and just three touchdowns, his lowest totals since his rookie season in 2013.
At 36 years old, Kelce is in his 13th NFL season and the final year of his current contract with Kansas City. While speculation about retirement has intensified, he has publicly downplayed those discussions.
“I think I’d rather just keep the focus of the media and everything on this team right now. … All the conversations that I have with the team and everything moving forward will be with them,” Kelce declared.
Fan engagement across the league was led by the Chicago Bears, who received the most total votes as a team, followed by the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Chiefs and Detroit Lions. The 2026 Pro Bowl Games will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, marking the first time the event takes place during Super Bowl week.
The NFL has said the shift is intended to boost visibility and participation, a move that appears to be paying off with strong fan turnout at the ballot box.
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