Early Life, Education, and College Career
Travis Michael Kelce (/ˈkɛlsi/ KEL-see) was born on October 5, 1989, in Westlake, Ohio. Raised in Cleveland Heights, Kelce showcased his athletic prowess in football, basketball, and baseball at Cleveland Heights High School. As a senior quarterback, he amassed 2,539 yards of total offense, earning All-Lake Erie League honors.
Kelce accepted a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, joining his brother Jason, who was the starting left guard for the Bearcats. After redshirting in 2008, Kelce played tight end and quarterback, but his college career faced a setback in 2010 due to a suspension for violating team rules. Returning strong, he earned first-team all-conference honors in 2012 with career highs in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.
Professional Career
Early Years and Development
Kelce was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. Despite an injury-plagued rookie season, he made significant strides in 2014, finishing as the Chiefs’ leading receiver with 862 yards. His performance continued to improve, and by 2015, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection.
Breakthrough and Records
Kelce’s career truly took off from 2016 onwards. He signed a five-year, $46 million contract extension and led all NFL tight ends in receiving yards with 1,125. His consistent performance earned him multiple Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors.
In the 2018 season, Kelce broke the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season, which was later surpassed by George Kittle. Kelce maintained his elite status, finishing the season with 1,336 yards and helping lead the Chiefs to Super Bowl LIV, where they emerged victorious.
Continued Dominance and Accolades
Kelce’s 2020 season was historic. He set the record for the most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season with 1,416 yards and became the first tight end with five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He continued to break records, including being the fastest tight end to reach 8,000 and 10,000 career receiving yards.
In 2022, Kelce recorded his seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season and became the fifth tight end to surpass 10,000 career receiving yards. He played a crucial role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII victory, making him a two-time Super Bowl champion.
2023 Season and Third Super Bowl Win
The 2023 season saw Kelce overcome a knee injury to help the Chiefs secure another Super Bowl victory. Despite missing the season opener, he quickly returned to form, setting a career high with 12 receptions in a single game and breaking the Chiefs’ franchise record for career receiving yards. Kelce finished the regular season with 984 receiving yards on 93 receptions.
2024 Season
On April 29, 2024, Travis Kelce signed a two-year extension with the Kansas City Chiefs valued at $34.25 million, making him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history .
NFL Career Statistics
Regular Season
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | ||
2013 | KC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014 | KC | 16 | 11 | 67 | 862 |
2015 | KC | 16 | 16 | 72 | 875 |
2016 | KC | 16 | 15 | 85 | 1,125 |
2017 | KC | 15 | 15 | 83 | 1,038 |
2018 | KC | 16 | 16 | 103 | 1,336 |
2019 | KC | 16 | 16 | 97 | 1,229 |
2020 | KC | 15 | 15 | 105 | 1,416 |
2021 | KC | 16 | 16 | 92 | 1,125 |
2022 | KC | 17 | 17 | 110 | 1,338 |
2023 | KC | 15 | 15 | 93 | 984 |
Career | 159 | 152 | 907 | 11,328 |
Postseason
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles |
---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | ||
2013 | KC | Did not play | ||
2015 | KC | 2 | 2 | 14 |
2016 | KC | 1 | 1 | 5 |
2017 | KC | 1 | 1 | 4 |
2018 | KC | 2 | 2 | 10 |
2019 | KC | 3 | 3 | 19 |
2020 | KC | 3 | 3 | 31 |
2021 | KC | 3 | 3 | 23 |
2022 | KC | 3 | 3 | 27 |
2023 | KC | 4 | 4 | 32 |
Career | 22 | 22 | 165 |
Records and Achievements
NFL Records (All Positions)
- Career postseason receptions: 165 .
NFL Records (Tight Ends)
- Consecutive 1,000-yard seasons: 7 (2016–2022) .
- Total 1,000-yard seasons: 7 (2016–2022) .
- Receiving yards in a season: 1,416 (2020) .
- Career postseason receiving yards: 1,903.
- 100+ reception seasons: 3 .
- Fewest games to reach 10,000 career receiving yards: 140 .
- 100-yard receiving games: 37 .
- Career postseason receiving touchdowns: 19 .
- Career postseason games started: 22 .
Chiefs Franchise Records
- 100-yard receiving games: 37 .
- Receiving touchdowns in a game: 4 (tied) .
- Career receiving yards: 11,328 .
Awards and Honors
- NFL:
- 3× Super Bowl Champion (LIV, LVII, LVIII)
- 4× First-team All-Pro (2016, 2018, 2020, 2022)
- 3× Second-team All-Pro (2017, 2019, 2021)
- 9× Pro Bowl (2015–2023)
- NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
- NCAA:
- First-team All-Big East (2012) .
- Non-football:
- People’s Choice Awards – Athlete of the Year (2024) .
Philanthropy and Activism
Travis Kelce has made significant contributions through his nonprofit, Eighty-Seven & Running, established in Cleveland, Ohio, with the mission of empowering underprivileged youth by providing resources and support . His initiatives include a Robotics Lab with Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City and the Ignition Lab, a coworking space for disadvantaged children interested in STEM careers . He organizes annual fundraising events in Kansas City, such as auto and fashion shows, to support various causes . In 2024, Kelce donated 25,000 breakfast meals to Kansas City students and launched “Catching for a Cause,” pledging donations for every catch and touchdown . Following a tragic event at a Kansas City parade, he donated $100,000 to the family of two children injured by gunfire .
Kelce supports several organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Read Across America Day, and has donated to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia .
Personal Life
Relationships
Travis Kelce’s romantic life has been a topic of public interest. After his dating show, Catching Kelce, Kelce began dating the show’s winner, Maya Benberry, in April 2016. However, their relationship ended in January 2017. From 2017 to 2022, Kelce was in a relationship with social media influencer Kayla Nicole Brown.
In 2023, Kelce began dating singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The highly publicized relationship has not only drawn significant media attention but has also had a noticeable impact on NFL viewership and popularity. Swift’s attendance at games has been linked to record-breaking viewership, ticket sales, and merchandise sales. For instance, a Chiefs–Chicago Bears game became the most-watched game of the weekend, and a Chiefs–New York Jets game averaged 27 million viewers, making it the most-watched Sunday-night television show since Super Bowl LVII. Additionally, the Chiefs–Buffalo Bills game on January 21, 2024, was the most-watched NFL divisional playoff game ever and the most-watched program on any network since Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs–Baltimore Ravens AFC Conference Championship Game also became the most-watched AFC Championship game of all time.
Kelce and Swift have been widely referred to as a supercouple, often dubbed “America’s very own royal couple.” With the Chiefs advancing to Super Bowl LVIII, the game has been referred to as the “Taylor Swift Bowl.” One widely cited estimate by a sports marketing company indicated that the Kelce-Swift relationship had significantly stimulated ticket sales, viewership, and merchandising, adding approximately $331.4 million to the Chiefs franchise’s value in six months.
Hobbies and Interests
Kelce is an avid golfer and enjoys playing the sport during the NFL offseason. He has participated in several celebrity tournaments, including the American Century Championship, where he won the long drive contest in 2023. In the same year, he took part in The Match VIII, teaming up with his Chiefs teammate Patrick Mahomes against Golden State Warriors teammates Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Mahomes and Kelce won the match.
Travis Kelce is also known for his interest in car collecting. He owns homes in the Kansas City area and a condo in Orlando, Florida.
Media and Public Appearances of Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce has made numerous television appearances, including guest roles on The League, The Eric Andre Show, and The Masked Singer. He hosted Saturday Night Live on March 4, 2023, to positive reviews, showcasing his comedic talents. Additionally, Travis Kelce co-hosts the popular podcast New Heights with his brother Jason, which has become the number one sports podcast on Spotify and Apple. The podcast features in-depth interviews with NFL players, providing insights into their careers and lives off the field.