Summary
- Jason and Travis Kelce are accomplished NFL players who have also made names for themselves off the field, hosting a podcast and starring in their own reality dating series.
- Both brothers overcame challenges in college to make it to the NFL, where they have become Super Bowl champions and top players in their positions.
- Jason Kelce has played for the Philadelphia Eagles since 2011, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections and winning Super Bowl LII. Travis Kelce has played for the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013 and has won two Super Bowls with the team, establishing himself as one of the greatest tight ends of all time.
As the Prime Video documentary Kelce shows, brothers Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce have become two of the most accomplished players in the NFL. The siblings from Westlake, Ohio, have also made names for themselves off the field. They co-host the podcast New Heights, which gives fans and non-fans alike an inside look at the life of a professional athlete. Jason was the focal point of Amazon's 2023 documentary Kelce, examining his decision to continue playing and ultimately facing Travis in Super Bowl LVII. Travis Kelce once starred in his own reality dating series, Catching Kelce, and in September 2023, he was linked to pop superstar Taylor Swift.
Regardless of what Jason and Travis Kelce do off the field, they will always be best known for what they've accomplished in the game of football. Each brother faced different challenges at the collegiate level. Both persevered and made it to the NFL, going on to become Super Bowl champions and among the top players at their respective positions. There's no doubt that both will someday be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jason Kelce's and Travis Kelce's net worths also reflect what they've been able to do at the highest level of pro football.
Jason Kelce's Football Career Explained
Jason Kelce currently plays center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a standout football player at Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. In addition to Jason and his brother Travis Kelce, the school has produced three other NFL players. Jason played both running back and linebacker in high school. He switched positions once he played college football, changing his career trajectory and eventually landing him in the NFL.
Jason Kelce Was A Walk-On At The University Of Cincinnati
Jason Kelce ed on scholarships for NCAA Division II schools and instead enrolled at the University of Cincinnati. He made the football team as a walk-on running back and was redshirted in 2006. The next year, Kelce had made the switch to the offensive line and played in nine games. His collegiate career began to take off playing left guard as a sophomore, helping the Bearcats make the Orange Bowl in 2008. Kelce's junior year saw Cincinnati win its conference again and make it to the Sugar Bowl. He moved to center for his final college football season in 2009.
Jason Kelce Has Played For The Philadelphia Eagles Since 2011
Jason Kelce declared for the 2011 NFL Draft, with experts projecting him to be a fourth round pick. But it wasn't until the 191st pick in the sixth round that the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Kelce. He impressed in training camp and went on to start all 16 games at center as a rookie. The Eagles rewarded Kelce in 2014, inking him to a six-year contract extension worth $37.5 million. After considering retirement, Kelce got a raise ahead of the 2023 season. He'll earn $14.25 million as the highest-paid center in the NFL. With the Eagles, he's made six Pro Bowls and been named First-team All-Pro five times.
Jason Kelce Won Super Bowl LII With The Philadelphia Eagles
Jason Kelce and the Eagles reached the NFL mountaintop in 2018 when they won Super Bowl LII. The NFC champions defeated the New England Patriots 41 to 33 in an upset victory. It was a fitting end to what was Kelce's best season in the NFL. The sports analytics outlet Pro Football Focus ranked him as the season's best center. His blocking prowess also helped running back LeSean McCoy lead the league in rushing yards.
In the Super Bowl, Kelce helped the Eagles offense gain over 500 yards while not allowing any sacks. The center further endeared himself to Philadelphia fans by giving a rousing speech at the victory parade while dressed as a mummer from the city's annual folk parade.
Travis Kelce's Football Career Explained
Travis Kelce currently plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. He has become arguably the greatest tight end of all time during his 10-year career. He's among the top at his position in every major statistical category, securing his future spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kelce's career with the Kansas City Chiefs has been defined by winning and his incredibly productive partnership with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Travis Kelce Played Football With Jason At The University Of Cincinnati But Was Suspended For 1 Year
After a successful high school football career, Travis Kelce had multiple scholarship offers on the table. He chose to attend the University of Cincinnati and play alongside Jason. His first action came in 2009 when he rushed for two touchdowns as a backup running back and quarterback. The university suspended Kelce for the 2010 season after he failed a drug test by testing positive for marijuana. He returned for his final two seasons, scoring two touchdowns and amassing over 800 yards as a tight end. Kelce didn't exactly post eye-popping numbers at Cincinnati. Yet his athleticism and blocking skills made him a promising NFL prospect.
Travis Kelce Has Played For The Kansas City Chiefs Since 2013
Travis Kelce entered the 2013 NFL draft graded among the top tight ends available with some analysts comparing him to Patriots' superstar Rob Gronkowski. However, some believed Kelce lacked speed and quickness. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the third round with the 63rd overall pick. Kelce had his breakout season in 2016, leading all tight ends in receiving yards. It was the start of an NFL-record seven consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. Kelce also holds the NFL record for 100-plus-receiving-yard games by a tight end. Through 10 seasons, Kelce earned four First-team All-Pro honors, made eight Pro Bowl teams, and was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Travis Kelce Won 2 Super Bowls With The Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce has helped the Chiefs become one of the most dominant and successful NFL teams of the past decade. The Chiefs won their first Super Bowl since 1970 when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in 2020's Super Bowl LIV. Kelce's fourth quarter touchdown reception was the first of three unanswered scores by the Chiefs to complete their comeback victory, 31 to 20.
Three years later, Travis faced off against Jason in Super Bowl LVII. Dubbed the "Kelce Bowl," the matchup between the brothers brought even more media attention to the game. Travis had six catches for 81 yards, including a first quarter touchdown, in the Chiefs' 38 to 35 victory, giving him his second Super Bowl championship. The Chiefs and Eagles are among the favorites to win Super Bowl LVIII, setting up a potential rematch between Jason and Travis Kelce. After that, as the documentary Kelce hints, Jason may retire at the end of the 2023-2024 season, but Travis isn't even considering quitting anytime soon.
