Travis Kelce has not had the smoothest of rides to becoming a superstar in the NFL, but he is now one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet.
Now 35, Kelce has had an illustrious career with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning the Super Bowl three times, including against his own brother, who he credits for saving his career.
Kelce has also had an interesting journey off the field, with some big relationships over the years.
Here, we look into the journey of the NFL superstar, from his start in football, to a rocky period in college, and becoming a superstar who’s part of perhaps the most famous power couple in the world.
Choosing football in Cleveland
Kelce played football, basketball and baseball in his hometown of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, but it always seemed football was to be his path.
In his senior year of high school, Kelce, a quarterback at the time, both passed and ran for over 1000 yards, with a total of 31 touchdowns and over 2500 yards of total offence.
That gained him two-star honours and a scholarship from the University of Cincinnati, where older brother Jason was already playing.
Suspended in college
Kelce still played quarterback in college but was also deployed as a tight end in 2009, with one reception for just three yards in the position.
After testing positive for marijuana, Kelce was suspended for the following season, and with his scholarship taken away, his career might have been in ruin were it not for brother Jason saving the day.
A senior at the time, Jason pleaded with coaches and multiple members of staff in the hopes that his younger brother would be given another chance.
He was, and Kelce feels “forever in debt” to his brother for that. Returning to the football field now fully as a tight end, Kelce showed promise with two touchdowns in 2011, and eight more in 2012, when he racked up 722 receiving yards.
NFL stardom
In the 2013 NFL draft, Kelce was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round. Head coach Andy Reid had previously coached his brother and sought his input before drafting Kelce.
Coach Reid believed Kelce should have been a first-rounder but had reservations due to his college suspension, allayed when Jason vouched that he would stay out of trouble if he picked him.
Kelce hardly played in 2013 due to injury but recorded his first 100-yard game in his second appearance in 2014, ending the season as the Chiefs’ leading receiver, with 862 yards and 67 receptions.
Soon, any fears of his ability in the league had dissipated, and Kelce is now seen by many as the greatest tight end in the history of the game.
He is third on the list of most receiving yards for a tight end but has the best receiving yards in a single season in his position, with 1416.
Kelce has 80 touchdowns in the NFL, is in the top 30 of all time for receiving yards, and has both the most receiving yards and touchdowns in the postseason by a tight end, showing his and the Chiefs’ dominance.
Kelce has played in five Super Bowls and won three of them, including against brother Jason in 2023, when the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.
Relationship with Taylor Swift
Kelce has had several relationships in the public eye. He was the namesake of the show Catching Kelce, and began dating the winner, Maya Benberry, in 2016.
After that, he was in a relationship with influencer Kayla Nicole Brown from 2017 to 2022, and then he began dating pop star Taylor Swift in 2023.
Swift is regularly seen supporting Chiefs games, leading to more interest in the NFL from new audiences, and Kelce has even supported her by joining her on stage at an Eras Tour concert at Wembley Stadium.
Travis Kelce’s net worth
Kelce’s net worth has reportedly more than tripled since being with Swift, with it now said to be at more than $90million.
Kelce’s earnings include his $34.25million Chiefs contract and $5million in endorsements from the likes of McDonalds, Papa Johns and Bud Light, while his podcast, New Heights, is on a $100million Amazon Wondery deal.
Kelce’s social media following has also grown exponentially as a result of his relationship with Swift, as the pair build an empire that could lead him to a career after football in any number of fields.
