Patrick Mahomes Expects Travis Kelce to "Step Up" During NFL Playoffs

Patrick Mahomes is counting on Travis Kelce to leave it all on the field.

The starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, who became a father of three on January 12 with the arrival of their daughter, Golden Raye Mahomes, expressed his thoughts about how his teammate, Travis Kelce, is likely to boost his performance as the NFL playoff season intensifies.

In a recent press conference on January 14th, Patrick stated, “During playoffs, the outstanding players raise their game to an even higher level. The top performers and leaders produce their finest moments, and he’s demonstrated this ability, so I anticipate similar excellence from him as we approach the playoffs.

Last year’s Super Bowl MVP, who was instrumental in securing the Chiefs’ triumph during the championship, also praised the tight end for his inspiring commitment to achieving success.

Patrick explained that his teammate’s mindset, which he displays both during practices and actual games, seems to inspire everyone and helps them play their top-tier football. He believes this is crucial for winning titles.

Although many have lauded him, Travis – who is dating Taylor Swift, one of the people cheering on his historic 77th touchdown – has been self-critical about his gameplay this season.

Currently, something is preventing me from scoring a touchdown this season, and I’m having trouble connecting with Pat. It’s becoming increasingly frustrating, and I must admit it’s quite frustrating indeed. This was expressed by the 35-year-old to his brother Jason Kelce on their podcast, “New Heights,” in December.

While the football hero found himself displeased with his on-field performance, Jason, who is father to Wyatt (5 years old), Elliotte (3 years old), and Bennett (22 months), as well as expecting wife Kylie Kelce, made every effort to console him.

He said to his younger brother, “It’s clear that you set the bar quite high for yourself.” However, I can’t help but feel that you might be overly critical of yourself.

However, Travis has other aspects beyond his meticulousness. Continue reading for some intriguing details about this Kansas City Chiefs tight end you might not be aware of yet.

Although Travis Kelce might be deeply connected to Kansas City, Missouri for the long haul, his roots lie in Cleveland Heights, Ohio where he spent his childhood years.

Instead of mentioning his alma mater, University of Cincinnati, during game broadcasts with player introductions, the man proudly shouts out his hometown instead.

Which, as you might guess, has irked some fellow alums.

Travis admitted in 2019 that he didn’t have an easy time at the University of Cincinnati, despite cherishing his experience deeply. He confessed that during that period, he lost his scholarship, made some poor decisions, and caused trouble. Many people from Cleveland Heights High School might relate to someone like him who has acted foolishly.

Beyond just being significant to him, he added, this place up here holds a special meaning for everyone. The diversity here is remarkable and it stirs something within me. Everything I accomplish is for this city. It may sound trite, but let me assure you, whatever you see me doing offstage – whether it’s celebrating in the end zone – that’s my love for Cleveland Heights, on display for you all.

2. About that revoked scholarship…

2009 was the year I lived and breathed as a Bearcats fan, with their unbeaten season culminating in a Big East title. Yet, little did I know that our star player, Travis, would tarnish this glory. The Sugar Bowl of 2010 should have been another triumphant chapter, but alas, it was overshadowed by Travis’s failed marijuana test. The night before in New Orleans, the city’s revelry proved too tempting for him to resist, and his partying on New Year’s Eve ultimately led to this unfortunate incident.

Beyond just missing out on the bowl game, my world crumbled when I was suspended by the NCAA for the entire 2010 season, causing me to lose my precious scholarship. With nowhere else to go, I humbly moved in with my brother Jason, taking up residence in his room within their shared house with some teammates. To make ends meet, I found myself on the phone, day in and day out, questioning strangers about their thoughts on the Affordable Care Act as a telemarketer.

They did, and Travis could not wait to get back on the field.

3. Travis had previously played hockey, baseball, and basketball, eventually focusing on football where he served as a high school quarterback. Interestingly, he was a two-star QB prospect for Cincinnati, but later transitioned to the position of tight end as part of his reinstatement into the team following a suspension, rather than continuing in the quarterback role.

Back in 2013, when I got drafted by the Chiefs, we had an excellent quarterback named Zach Collaros on our team. We were seeking improvement in both our running and passing games as well. So, I discussed this with my coach, Butch Jones, who was coaching me at that time. He suggested that we needed a tight end, and my abilities, athleticism, and direction fit perfectly for the role. It all worked out wonderfully for me.

In 2017, when he spoke with GQ, he essentially said that people throughout his life had always viewed him as more of a tight end rather than a star.

4. At 127 W. Nixon St., the house shared by Travis, Jason, and other University of Cincinnati students (Bearcats), was frequently the site of boisterous activities involving beer.

Tom DeTemple shared with the New York Times before the 2024 Super Bowl that the brothers were fond of spending lengthy hours on their Nintendo 64 console, simultaneously pounding game controls and gulping beers. He added that during these gaming sessions, they would invent impromptu drinking games and exhibited exceptional skills in doing so.

5. And suffice it to say, Travis is extremely proud of being a Bearcat.

Speaking to reporters prior to the 2023 Super Bowl, I proudly declared, “It’s all about Cincinnati for me.” You see, I hail from the University of Cincinnati, a place that holds a special place in my heart. After years of hard work, I finally earned my degree. Whenever I have the chance, I return to the university to lend a helping hand. The energy and camaraderie I feel there, surrounded by former teammates and friends made along the journey, is something I truly miss. Through all the highs and lows of life, they’ve always stood by my side as loyal supporters.

When he found himself facing criticism from the NCAA, he responded, “Those who were part of the university at the time – players, coaches, staff – had faith in my ability to improve the situation and make progress personally. This support was extremely important to me.

6. Travis, who had enlisted in the draft shortly after college, finally earned his interdisciplinary studies degree in 2022. However, he didn’t receive his diploma until April 2024, during an unexpected graduation ceremony. This special event coincided with the taping of a live episode of New Heights at Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena, where Travis was with Jason.

As the graduate neared the dean to receive his congratulatory handshake, he was already clutching a beer can in his hand. After their handshake, he swiftly drank the beer.

And Travis was going to graduate in 2022 but he missed his flight.

7. Due mainly to some problems away from the field, Travis was selected as the fifth tight end in the 2013 NFL Draft, taken in the third round by the Chiefs. Later on, coach Andy Reid, who had previously coached Jason in Philadelphia, requested the older Kelce brother to endorse Travis.

Andy and Travis have three Super Bowl rings to show for Jason’s endorsement.

8. For quite some time, Travis used to listen to “Burn On” by Randy Newman prior to every game, though the kind of music he gets pumped up to may have evolved since then.

In his appearance on the “PFT Live” podcast in 2017, he shared that as a native of Cleveland’s east side, this particular song often transports him back to memories of family and self-reflection about his current life circumstances, expressing gratitude for it all.

Let us explain: It’s in the opening credits of Major League, the ultimate Cleveland sports movie.

9. Everyone, including Travis, is mispronouncing his last name.

Even though they’ve just left with someone whose name, Kelce, sounds like “Kel-see” at first, it actually rhymes with “else”.

Travis’ teammate Chris Jones dropped a surprising revelation on Inside the NFL in January, saying “Isn’t that crazy?” which the brothers verified during their discussion with their father Ed Kelce on their New Heights podcast.

Jason wondered aloud, “Why on earth did you suddenly decide to change your name, and now we are known as Kel-see? I can’t help but wonder why we thought our name was something else for the first two decades of my life, and almost three for yours too?

Ed admitted he “got tired of correcting people” but urged his son to “do whatever you want.”

10. Travis, who wears jersey number 87, pays homage to Jason, as he was born in the year 1987 during Travis’s NFL career.

Travis shared with NFL Films before the 2023 Super Bowl, where his Chiefs faced off against Jason’s Eagles, that if there is a Kelce legacy in the NFL, it stems from the birth of this tall player in 1987.

Since 2015, Travis’ foundation and Running have consistently backed Operation Breakthrough – a nonprofit learning center in Kansas City – with whom the athlete has been working closely, as he read “The Cat in the Hat” to the kids during his initial visit.)

Yes, reader, he wore the hat.

Following that point, Travis took part in the Smart Lab investment and acquired the adjacent ex-muffler workshop to facilitate growth and establish the Ignition Lab. In this space, the youthful students transformed vehicles destined for the scrapyard into functional electric vehicles.

12. Travis and Jason affectionately refer to their New Heights listeners as “92% Club Members,” a nickname inspired by Jason’s previous observation that a quarterback sneak play would succeed approximately 92% of the time when just one yard was needed to secure a touchdown.

The fans, as per the podcast’s site, seemed amused and self-proclaimed as the “92 percenters.” This term was reminiscent of a secret code or password, but expressed verbally instead.

Who were the Kelce brothers to argue with that?

13. Travis is accompanied by his three trainers – Alex Skacel, Andrew Spruill, and Laurence Justin Ng – wherever he goes, as one of them typically journeys with him at all times to help maintain Travis’s physical fitness for football throughout the entire year, as reported by The Athletic.

Alex, a physical therapist as well, reminisced about how Travis expressed his desire for an evening jog, following the numerous fashion shows attended at Paris Fashion Week, since he hadn’t had the chance to exercise that particular day.

As twilight falls, I’m guiding my clients through quick bursts of energy across the city bridges over the river – a testament to the importance of fitness in our busy lives. Regardless of location, I ensure that each day is productive by making time for what matters most.

14. Kumar Ferguson, who has been friends with Travis since the fourth grade in Cleveland Heights, serves as his personal chef.

In 2016, while he was pursuing his passion for cooking as an amateur chef, someone named Travis phoned him with an offer that he couldn’t refuse.

In 2023, Kumar expressed to Vanity Fair that he said something like, “Hey, I want to commit fully to my diet and push it even further.” To which I responded, “Wow, let’s go for it!” Just a few days after that, I found myself in Kansas City.

He takes care of various tasks, ranging from ensuring Travis’ refrigerator is stocked to providing balanced meals at the Chiefs’ training facility.

15. Travis has been scrutinizing his facial hair closely this year, and he shared on New Heights that he trimmed his off-season beard last year and kept the mustache as a tribute to Andy Reid’s walrus style, which he plans to maintain again in 2024.

16. In April 2024, when Travis agreed to a two-year deal worth $34.25 million, he became the highest-earning tight end in the NFL for the first time during his professional career.

Which finally put an end to years of chatter about how much money he wasn’t making.

In 2023, Travis jokingly told Vanity Fair that his supervisors and representatives often remind him he’m not getting paid enough. Every time I bring up the topic of higher compensation, they simply suggest I approach the Chiefs about it instead.

However, as other revenue streams became available to him, he found himself prioritizing the overall atmosphere over the salary.

He clarified, “The free market seems appealing until you find yourself not succeeding, and that’s not my style. I enjoy success, I appreciate the position I’m currently in.

Admitting it’s a bit disheartening, he acknowledged seeing other players’ significant earnings. It stirs thoughts of being undercompensated. I wonder if I were to exert more effort, would I reap the rewards commensurate with my perceived value? However, I take pleasure in visiting that building daily.

17. Travis developed an interest in fashion while growing up in Cleveland Heights, as his high school served as a daily runway for him, according to comments made to Vanity Fair in 2023.

Therefore, by transforming the room into a walk-in wardrobe, he could accommodate his high-end clothing collection and over 300 sneakers, including a set of Nike Air Mags (size 13) which he bought using a significant portion of his initial year’s earnings, although they were slightly too small for him.

Previously, during the early stages of his career, he mentioned to the Wall Street Journal that before there were various sneaker apps, he would simply purchase the size of shoe he desired, regardless of whether it fit perfectly or not.

He has a soft spot for both Nike shoes, due to their sponsorship, and Chuck Taylors, as they evoke memories of the character Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez from the movie The Sandlot.

18. Among his dozens of investments, Travis co-owns Ohio-brewed Garage Beer with Jason.

Travis stated back in June that it’s no secret he enjoys a few beers occasionally. He finds it thrilling, he added, to own Garage Beer and play a significant role in crafting top-notch light beer. There’s nothing more effective at uniting folks than an ice-cold brew, and for Travis and Jason, that’s what beer stands for – camaraderie, kinship, and good times.

19. We’re sensing a theme when it comes to Travis’ guilty pleasure TV choices.

In the past, it was referred to as “Gossip Girl”: He expressed admiration for it on “New Heights”. Essentially, it’s a TV series set in New York City that revolves around high school life, filled with plenty of drama, and essentially everyone gossips and talks negatively about each other.

His new favorite show? Peacock’s Emmy-winning backstab-a-ganza The Traitors.

20. Recently, Travis, who’s in his 12th season playing football at the age of 35, has become more forthcoming about the physical strain the sport puts on one’s body.

However, he has endured numerous setbacks from the very beginning, starting with a microfracture in his knee during his rookie season that needed surgery, which was the first of the ten operations he’s undergone throughout his professional career.

21. Openly, Travis discussed his failed attempt to offer Taylor Swift a friendship bracelet bearing his phone number during the stop of her Eras Tour in Kansas City, as he spoke on the radio show “New Heights.

After learning about it from those close to her who knew Travis and his desire to meet her, she reached out to him directly.

He explained to WSJ. Magazine that she had shared with him all the details about the situation, and fortuitously, she contacted him.

For years now, I’ve had a soft spot for a delightful treat that goes by the name of French toast, adorned generously with whipped cream and syrups – a dish I absolutely cherish, just like Travis does.

But more recently he’s become a fan of his girlfriend’s homemade Pop-Tarts and cinnamon rolls.

23. One of Travis’ phone tones features Chris Farley exclaiming “Goodness gracious me!” from the movie ‘Tommy Boy’.

He shared with WSJ. The Magazine that he had introduced his affection for the comedic styles of Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell to his girlfriend, expressing, “This is where I find my rhythm.

24. Following their AFC Championship victory against the Bengals in 2019, Travis exhorted his team by shouting “You’ve got to fight for your right to party!” This led the Chiefs to play the Beastie Boys song with the same title after every touchdown scored at Arrowhead Stadium following home games.

Brett Veach, general manager of the Chiefs, explained to ESPN in 2020 that Travis Kelce is like a power amplifier, difficult to measure how significant his impact is. He plays with an extraordinary blend of character, charm, and enthusiasm, and everyone in our team adores him. Kelce is not just an energy booster; he lifts the spirits, focus, and attention of those around him. At the end of the day, he remains fun and enjoyable to be with.

However, the exuberant partygoer who introduced the tune into their existence confessed that he wasn’t familiar with all the lyrics of the 1986 hit until he was asked to sing it alongside Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in February 2023.

25. Regarding his preferences, Travis mentioned in May 2024 that his top three favorite Taylor Swift tunes are “Blank Space”, “The Alchemy”, and “So High School”.

Or simply:

25. In May 2024, Travis named his favorite Taylor Swift songs as “Blank Space”, “The Alchemy”, and “So High School”.

Inquired about the matter back in September, but when questioned again, he replied that he loved them all equally – every single one.

26. Travis was often compared to the esteemed Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end, Tony Gonzalez, who hung up his cleats in 2013 following a 17-year career in the league, from an early stage onwards.

Back in 2015, as the buzz grew louder about whether I could outshine Tony’s accomplishments and the potential letdown if I fell short, I chose to tune it all out.

He shared with Complex, “No one sets higher goals for me than I do. I aspire to achieve the most exceptional statistical season of any tight end in history.

On September 29th, Travis took the lead as the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time receiving record holder with his 917th catch, overtaking Tony in the process.

Travis remarked on New Heights, “It’s amazing how things return to where they started.” Being at the top of the leaderboard with the Kansas City Chiefs, an organization that dates back to the ’60s, one of the original teams that managed to survive and thrive until now. A significant part of their success is due to their long history and a person like Tony Gonzalez, who has been a mentor to me. I truly admire him.

27. Of Travis’ many accomplishments, keeping his house in order on his own isn’t one of them.

“He can’t clean,” mom Donna Kelce told Extra in September. “He can’t cook.”

It might be that having a special person visiting has given you an added incentive to tidy up and organize your place more efficiently.

“He’s getting a little better,” Donna acknowledged. “I think he’s getting some help.”

2025-01-15 03:19

Patrick Mahomes Expects Travis Kelce to “Step Up” During NFL Playoffs

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