Report: Travis Kelce 'In Talks' to Host 'Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?' Celebrity Reboot

Travis Kelce could be heading to Amazon Prime Video as a host, but not for NFL coverage. A new report connects Kelce to a hosting role in a reboot of "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?"
Report: Travis Kelce 'In Talks' to Host 'Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?' Celebrity Reboot
Report: Travis Kelce 'In Talks' to Host 'Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?' Celebrity Reboot /
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce saw his fame rise to new heights during the 2023-24 NFL season, and now a new report could shine a light on his latest plans to return to screens not just as a player, but as a game show host.

According to a story from Variety, Kelce is reportedly "in talks" to host a reboot of "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" Here are the details Variety published on Tuesday:

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is in discussions to host a celebrity-focused reboot of the long-running game show “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” that would stream via Amazon Prime Video, according to two people familiar with the matter. The deal, if signed, would represent the football great’s latest move toward general entertainment after appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” the reality series “Catching Kelce” and a podcast he hosts with his brother, Jason.

Amazon Prime Video declined to make executives available for comment, and CAA, the agency that represents Kelce, could not be reached for immediate comment. There are some questions, according to the people familiar with discussions, about how much of a commitment Kelce could make to the venture if he continues playing football.

The new version of the program, originally hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy and appearing on Fox’s broadcast network, would rely on celebrity guests rather than children, according to these people.

For Chiefs fans, the most jarring phrase in the entire story has little to do with television. According to Variety, there are concerns about Kelce's time commitment "if he continues playing football." The word "if" puts Kelce's football-playing future in question, but don't overreact to an entertainment industry story about Kelce potentially moving to a game show. There's no doubt that at age 34, Kelce is at the peak of his fame while likely being in the latter stage of his NFL playing career, but "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" won't be the pivot point between Kelce retiring or returning for a chance at the NFL's first three-peat.

Back to the entertainment side, Variety notes that Kelce is certainly an even more viable hosting candidate due to his relationship with Taylor Swift.

Producers would no doubt hope to leverage Kelce’s relationship with singer and musician Taylor Swift to draw new fans to any series that might come to fruition. Swift’s appearances at various NFL match-ups involving the Chiefs last season — including the team’s appearance in Super Bowl LVIII — caught the eye of many younger consumers who might not ordinarily be football fans.

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Joshua Brisco
JOSHUA BRISCO

Joshua Brisco is the editor and publisher of Kansas City Chiefs On SI and has covered the Chiefs professionally since 2017 across audio and written media.