Travis Kelce

Travis Michael Kelce was born October 5, 1989, in Westlake, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. He grew up in a close-knit family alongside his older brother Jason Kelce — the decorated Philadelphia Eagles center — and both brothers have credited their parents Ed and Donna with instilling a competitive, disciplined approach to sports and life. The Kelce family's rise to twin NFL stardom has become one of the most celebrated brotherhoods in professional football history.

Kelce attended Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio, where he was a multi-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He initially signed with Cincinnati as a quarterback, but was eventually moved to tight end, where he emerged as a physical matchup nightmare after a suspension that nearly derailed his college career. His redemption story at Cincinnati became part of the backstory that shaped his humble, grateful public persona.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Kelce in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, pick 63 overall. After missing his rookie year with a knee injury, he debuted in 2014 and immediately became one of the most productive tight ends in the league. He has posted ten consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons — the longest such streak by any tight end in NFL history — and holds the record for most receiving yards by a tight end in league history.

Kelce is a three-time Super Bowl champion (LIV, LVII, LVIII), multiple-time first-team All-Pro, and has been selected to a dozen-plus Pro Bowls. His partnership with quarterback Patrick Mahomes has produced some of the most prolific passing connections in NFL history, and his career reception, receiving yard, and receiving touchdown totals place him solidly among the greatest tight ends ever to play the position.

His résumé includes three Super Bowl titles, double-digit Pro Bowl selections, multiple All-Pro honors, and status as the consensus greatest tight end of his generation. His clutch postseason production — including record-breaking playoff performance totals — has made him one of the most dangerous playoff weapons in league history.

Off the field, Kelce has become one of the most famous athletes in American sports. He hosts the wildly popular 'New Heights' podcast with his brother Jason, co-founded the 87 & Running Foundation supporting at-risk youth, and maintains endorsement deals with State Farm, Papa John's, McDonald's, and numerous other major brands. His relationship with global pop star Taylor Swift, which became public in 2023, elevated him into a level of mainstream celebrity rarely reached by NFL players. He remains firmly connected to Cleveland Heights and his family's Ohio roots even as his fame has reached previously unimaginable heights.