Travis Kelce will always be the guy on the Chiefs.
Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, has confirmed he’s returning for his 14th season, putting an end to rumors about his possible retirement. The announcement was made on his podcast, New Heights, which he co-hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce, via an Instagram post on March 9th, declaring, “HE’S BACK!!! TRAVIS KELCE IS BACK WITH THE CHIEFS FOR YEAR 14.”
The NFL has confirmed that Travis Kelce, who became engaged to Taylor Swift in August, will continue playing through the 2026-2027 season. They shared a video with the message, “He’s not done yet.”
The Kansas City Chiefs had a difficult season, failing to reach the playoffs. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sidelined with an ACL injury, and the team finished the year with a defeat against the Raiders on January 4th.
Once the season ended, Travis, having played his entire career with the Chiefs, wasn’t sure what he would do next.
He said he’s unsure when he’ll make a decision. “It’ll either happen quickly, or I’ll need some time to think about it,” he told The Kansas City Star. He added that deciding last year was simpler, as he immediately knew he wanted to continue. “This year, I’m just not sure. We’ll see what happens.”
Despite a tough loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans, Travis has still had an incredibly successful NFL career, winning three Super Bowl championships in his 13 seasons.
Throughout his NFL career, Travis has earned a reputation as one of the greatest tight ends to ever play the game, breaking numerous records both league-wide and within the Kansas City organization.
Before talk of his retirement began, Travis reflected on his football career and discussed the physical and emotional challenges the sport presented.
As someone who’s been in the game a while, let me tell you, consistently making it to the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl isn’t just about the glory – it’s a real physical and mental grind. It adds about three extra games to your season, which means a lot more wear and tear on the body. Plus, it demands a huge commitment – more time dedicated to practice, refining your skills, and tackling every obstacle you set for yourself. Honestly, that whole process can be incredibly grueling, but it’s what it takes to stay competitive at the highest level.
After retiring from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, Jason shared some advice with his brother, Travis, as Travis considered what to do next.
He acknowledged their amazing season and run, saying he knew it was tough to focus on this particular game after such a dominant performance overall. He emphasized that their season was one of the best ever, and they’ve already secured their place in history – something no one can diminish.
Travis Kelce still has a close relationship with his teammates on the Chiefs, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who publicly supported him as he considered his future with the NFL. After the 2025 Super Bowl, Mahomes told reporters, “It’s up to Travis to decide what he wants to do. He’s contributed so much to this team and the NFL, and it’s been a pleasure to play with him and watch him play.”
He still really loves football, and he needs time with his family to decide what he wants to do next. But we know he’s always welcome back here. We appreciate him so much, not just as a player, but as a person – he’s great to be around every day.
As a huge fan, it’s been amazing to watch Travis expand beyond football! He’s really diving into the entertainment world – he just made his acting debut in Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie on FX, and I’m so excited to see his cameo in the new Happy Gilmore 2 with Adam Sandler. Plus, he’s been hosting Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, which is a blast because he gets to hang out with other former NFL players, TV personalities, and comedians. He’s clearly loving all these new opportunities, and I’m thrilled for him!
In an October 2024 interview with TopMob News, he said he’s had a wonderful life and doesn’t have any regrets.
Read on to learn more fun facts on Travis…
Although Travis Kelce is now famously associated with Kansas City, Missouri, he actually spent his childhood growing up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
During game broadcasts when players are introduced, the announcer proudly declares his hometown rather than his college, the University of Cincinnati.
Which, as you might guess, has irked some fellow alums.
Travis Kelce explained that while he deeply values his time at the University of Cincinnati, it wasn’t always easy. Speaking at his Cleveland Heights High School Hall of Fame induction in 2019, alongside his brother Jason Kelce, he admitted he faced difficulties, even losing his scholarship due to some poor choices. He jokingly acknowledged that he was likely the ‘Heights kid’ everyone knew who made mistakes.
He explained that Cleveland Heights wasn’t just important to him personally, but to everyone in the community. He emphasized the city’s diversity and how it inspired him, saying everything he does—even his celebrations on the field—is a tribute to Cleveland Heights and its people. He admitted it might sound like a familiar sentiment, but assured everyone that it was genuinely true.
2. About that revoked scholarship…
Following Cincinnati’s perfect 2009 season and Big East championship, Travis tested positive for marijuana before the 2010 Sugar Bowl. This happened after he partied excessively on New Year’s Eve while in New Orleans.
He didn’t just miss the bowl game; the NCAA suspended him for the entire 2010 season and he lost his scholarship. This left him without housing or meals, so he moved in with his brother Jason – sharing a room in the house Jason shared with teammates – and took a job as a telemarketer. His job involved calling people to get their opinions on the Affordable Care Act.
They did, and Travis could not wait to get back on the field.
Before focusing on football, Travis played hockey, baseball, and basketball. He originally played quarterback in high school and was even recruited to Cincinnati as a two-star QB. However, he switched to tight end – a requirement for rejoining the team after being suspended.
When I was drafted by the Chiefs in 2013, we already had a great quarterback in Zach Collaros, but we were looking to improve both our running and passing offenses,” Travis explained to Arrowhead Pride. “I spoke with my coach, Butch Jones, and he felt a tight end would be a good addition. Luckily, my abilities and athleticism fit what they needed, and it turned out to be a perfect match for me.
As he explained to GQ magazine in 2017, reflecting on a particularly embarrassing experience, people had always told him he was naturally suited to be a tight end.
Travis often hung out at the house on 127 W. Nixon Street with Jason and his teammates, and things frequently got wild thanks to a lot of beer.
According to college friend and teammate Tom DeTemple, the brothers would spend hours playing Nintendo 64, often combining it with drinking games. He told the New York Times before the 2024 Super Bowl that they’d invent these games on the spot and were surprisingly skilled at them.
5. And suffice it to say, Travis is extremely proud of being a Bearcat.
Before the 2023 Super Bowl, the Chiefs player shared how much Cincinnati means to him. He expressed strong pride in his time at the University of Cincinnati, where he recently earned his degree. He makes an effort to support the university and enjoys returning whenever possible, especially to reconnect with former teammates and the people who have supported him through thick and thin.
Even though the NCAA was investigating, he explained that the players, coaches, and staff at the university believed in him and his ability to improve. He said their support meant a lot to him then.
After nearly ten years away from school to pursue a career in football, Travis completed his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2022. He didn’t receive his diploma until April 2024, when he was surprised with a special graduation ceremony after he and his brother Jason recorded a live episode of their podcast, New Heights, at the Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati.
As the graduate went to shake the dean’s hand in congratulations, he was already holding a beer and immediately drank it down.
And Travis was going to graduate in 2022 but he missed his flight.
I remember when Travis Kelce finally got drafted! It was a bit of a shock he wasn’t higher up – some off-field stuff really hurt his draft stock, and he ended up being the fifth tight end taken in 2013, landing with the Chiefs in the third round. What’s really interesting is that Andy Reid, who already knew and coached Jason Kelce back in Philadelphia, actually asked Jason to give him the inside scoop on Travis. It showed how much Coach Reid valued Jason’s opinion and wanted to be sure about bringing Travis onto the team.
Andy and Travis have three Super Bowl rings to show for Jason’s endorsement.
Travis used to listen to Randy Newman’s song “Burn On” before every game for years, though his pre-game music choices have since evolved.
As someone who grew up on the east side of Cleveland, there’s just something about this song that always makes me incredibly reflective. It instantly brings me back to thinking about my family, where I am in my life journey, and how grateful I am for everything. I shared this a while back on the PFT Live podcast, and it still rings true for me today.
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.
Okay, so everyone’s been pronouncing Travis Kelce’s name wrong! Seriously, it drives me crazy! Jason and Travis just let people say “Kel-see,” but it’s actually supposed to rhyme with “else!” I’ve been saying it right all along, and it’s so frustrating no one else gets it!
The news first came out when Chris Jones, a teammate of Travis Kelce, mentioned it on the show Inside the NFL in January, saying, “It’s just crazy, right?” Travis and his brother Jason then confirmed the story when they talked to their dad, Ed Kelce, on their podcast, New Heights.
Jason was confused. “Seriously, why did you change your name? And why did we all just think it was ‘Kel-see’ for so long—like, for 27 years for me, and 25 for Trav?”
Ed admitted he “got tired of correcting people” but urged his son to “do whatever you want.”
Travis has worn the number 87 throughout his NFL career to honor his brother, Jason, who was born in 1987.
Travis Kelce shared with NFL Films that the story of his family’s NFL success – with both him and his brother Jason reaching the league – began in 1987, the year he was born. This was ahead of the 2023 Super Bowl, where his team, the Kansas City Chiefs, played against his brother Jason’s Philadelphia Eagles.
Okay, so you have to know about Travis Kelce’s 87 & Running foundation! It’s seriously amazing. They’ve been supporting Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City for years – it’s this incredible learning center. I remember reading that Travis first visited back in 2015, and he read ‘The Cat in the Hat’ to the kids! It’s just… so sweet and shows how much he cares. He’s been involved ever since, and it makes me love him even more, honestly.
Yes, reader, he wore the hat.
Since then, Travis has supported the program by funding its Smart Lab and purchasing the building next door. This allowed them to create the Ignition Lab, where students transformed old, discarded cars into functional electric vehicles.
Travis and Jason affectionately call their podcast listeners “92 percenters.” This nickname comes from a joke Jason made about a football play called a quarterback sneak, where he claimed it succeeds about 92% of the time when a team only needs to gain one yard for a touchdown.
Listeners loved the podcast so much they started calling themselves the “92 percenters,” as if it were a special inside joke, according to the podcast’s website.
Who were the Kelce brothers to argue with that?
Travis Kelce works with three personal trainers: Alex Skacel, Andrew Spruill, and Laurence Justin Ng. The Athletic reports that he typically has one of them travel with him to help him stay in peak condition for football year-round.
Alex, a physical therapist, remembered Travis wanting to go for a run late at night after Paris Fashion Week. Travis had skipped his usual workout that day and was feeling restless.
You wouldn’t believe how dedicated he is! I read in the New York Times that even at midnight, he’s out running sprints over the bridges! Seriously, bridges! The trainer said it doesn’t matter where he is in the world, he always makes time to get everything done. It’s just… incredible. He’s a machine, I swear!
Travis has been friends with his personal chef, Kumar Ferguson, since they were kids growing up in Cleveland Heights.
In 2016, he was a truck driver who enjoyed cooking as a hobby when Travis contacted him with a job offer.
Kumar recalled that the person said, ‘I really want to commit to a healthier diet and take it to the next level.’ Kumar responded that he was immediately on board, and just a few days later, he found himself in Kansas City.
He handles a wide range of tasks, including everything from keeping Travis’ fridge full to making sure the Chiefs players get healthy lunches at practice.
Travis Kelce has been getting a lot of attention for his facial hair lately. He shared on his podcast, New Heights, that he shaved his beard after the season in 2023, but kept his mustache to copy the look favored by his coach, Andy Reid – and he’s doing it again in 2024.
In April 2024, Travis signed a two-year contract worth $34.25 million, making him the NFL’s highest-paid tight end for the first time in his career.
Which finally put an end to years of chatter about how much money he wasn’t making.
In a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, Travis Kelce joked that his managers and agents often point out how much he deserves to be paid. He said whenever he brings up wanting a raise, they tell him to ask the Kansas City Chiefs for more money.
By that point, he had so many other ways to make money that he was more interested in enjoying his work than earning a large salary.
He said the idea of a free market seems good until you experience losing. He emphasized his enjoyment of success and his satisfaction with his current position.
It’s tough seeing other players earn so much money – it definitely makes you question things,” he said. “You start to wonder if you’re being fairly compensated, and whether pushing harder would actually result in you getting what you deserve. But despite all that, I genuinely love going to work every day.
Travis developed a passion for clothing at a young age while growing up in Cleveland Heights. He described his high school as a daily “fashion show” in a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair.
I remember when he first moved into the league, he immediately transformed a whole bedroom into a walk-in closet! It was incredible – filled with designer clothes and over 300 pairs of sneakers. The craziest part? He splurged a huge chunk of his first salary on a pair of size 13 Nike Air Mags… even though they were a size too small for him! It was classic him – always wanting the best, no matter the cost.
He told the Wall Street Journal that early in his career, before sneaker apps were common, he’d just buy whatever size of shoe he could find in the style he wanted.
He’s a big fan of Nike, especially since they sponsor him, but he also loves Chuck Taylor sneakers. They bring back fond memories of the movie The Sandlot and its star baseball player, Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez.
18. Among his dozens of investments, Travis co-owns Ohio-brewed Garage Beer with Jason.
Okay, so everyone knows I enjoy a beer or two, right? But seriously, becoming an owner of Garage Beer is a dream come true! I’m totally involved in crafting what I think will be the best light beer ever. Honestly, nothing beats sharing an ice-cold brew with the people you love. That’s what it’s all about for me and Jason – good times with friends and family, and just having fun!
19. We’re sensing a theme when it comes to Travis’ guilty pleasure TV choices.
He reminisced about the TV show Gossip Girl, describing it on his podcast, New Heights, as a classic New York high school drama filled with gossip and people talking negatively about each other. He said, “It’s awesome.”
His new favorite show? Peacock’s Emmy-winning backstab-a-ganza The Traitors.
After 12 seasons in the NFL, 35-year-old Travis Kelce has recently been sharing more about the physical challenges of playing football.
He’s quietly endured a lot of hardship from the start of his career. It began when a knee injury—a small fracture—forced him to miss his first season, and it was the first of ten surgeries he’s had throughout his time playing.
Travis Kelce recently shared on the New Heights podcast that he tried to give Taylor Swift a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it while she was performing in Kansas City, but wasn’t able to.
She heard through mutual connections that Travis wanted to meet her, so she reached out to him.
He told WSJ. Magazine that she explained the situation to him and how he felt fortunate she contacted him.
Travis has always loved French toast, especially when it’s topped with whipped cream and syrup.
But more recently he’s become a fan of his girlfriend’s homemade Pop-Tarts and cinnamon rolls.
23. At least one of Travis’ ringtones is Chris Farley shrieking “For the love of God!” in Tommy Boy.
He told WSJ. Magazine that he’s eager to share his love of comedians like Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell with Taylor. He explained, “I told her, ‘This is what I’m really into.’”
After the Chiefs won the AFC Championship in 2019, Travis Kelce shouted, “You’ve got to fight for your right to party!” This inspired the team to play the Beastie Boys’ song of the same name after every touchdown scored at home games at Arrowhead Stadium.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen firsthand how certain people just boost the energy of a room, and Travis Kelce is definitely one of those individuals. I spoke with Chiefs GM Brett Veach a while back, and he put it perfectly – it’s hard to put a number on the impact someone like Travis has. He’s got this incredible charisma and passion that’s infectious. Everyone in the Chiefs organization genuinely likes being around him. He’s a total mood-lifter, helps everyone stay focused, and makes work actually fun. It’s not just about his talent on the field; he brings out the best in everyone around him.
The person who famously introduced the 1986 song to everyone surprisingly didn’t learn all the lyrics until he had to sing it with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in February 2023.
In May 2024, Travis revealed his top three Taylor Swift songs: “Blank Space,” “The Alchemy,” and “So High School.”
When asked about them a few months later, he gave a different answer, saying, “I love them all—every single one!”
He publicly stated in August 2025 that his favorite song from The Life of a Show Girl is “Opalite.”
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen a lot of rising stars, and even early in Travis Kelce’s career, people were already drawing comparisons to a true legend – Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who finished playing after an incredible 17 seasons with the Chiefs and other teams back in 2013, set a really high bar, and Travis was quickly being talked about as someone who could reach that level.
Back in 2015, as people began to seriously discuss whether Travis could exceed Tony’s accomplishments—and how let down everyone would be if he failed—Travis claimed he ignored all the talk.
I’m my own harshest critic,” he said to Complex. “I’m aiming to have the best season any tight end has ever had, statistically.
In 2024, Travis became the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time leader in receptions, breaking the previous record with his 917th catch.
Honestly, it’s just… perfect. Like, everything feels meant to be. I was listening to the New Heights podcast, and Travis was talking about how incredible it is to be with the Chiefs – a team that’s been around forever, since the ’60s! They were one of the very first teams, and they’re still at the top of their game. He said so much of that is because of their amazing history, and especially because of Tony Gonzalez. He actually said, and I quote, ‘I fking love the guy!’ Seriously, Tony’s been a mentor to him, and you can just feel how much respect Travis has for him. It’s just… full circle, you know? It’s everything.
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 2024. “He can’t cook.”
But perhaps hosting a special someone served as extra motivation to get it together.
“He’s getting a little better,” Donna acknowledged. “I think he’s getting some help.”
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2026-03-10 01:19