Travis Kelce was born on October 5, 1989, in Westlake, Ohio, to parents Donna, a former bank executive, and Ed, a sales representative for the steel industry.
He attended Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio. A talented athlete, at school he played football, basketball, and baseball.
However, football was where he excelled. Playing for the Tigers, he was a three-year letter winner as a quarterback. As a senior, he was recognized with All-Lake Erie League honors.
Kelce went on to play college football at the University of Cincinnati, having turned down honors from Akron, Eastern Michigan, and Miami (OH).
He received a one-year suspension in 2010 for violating team rules. It was later revealed he failed a drug test for marijuana.
In 2013, Kelce was named winner of the College Football Performance Awards Tight End of the Year for 2012.
Kelce was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, where he plays as a tight end wearing jersey number 87.
Kelce towers over 6 feet 5 inches (1.95 m) tall and weighs 260 pounds (118 kg). He sometimes shaves his trademark beard to sport an Andy Reid (his coach) inspired mustache, which divides public opinion.
He has two brothers, Jason and Brandon. Jason is a center for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The brothers faced off in the 2023 Super Bowl for the first time when the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs played each other. Travis and the Chiefs ultimately defeated Jason and the Eagles 38-35. As soon as the game ended, Jason gave his little brother a hug.
Donna Kelce made history by being the first mother to have two sons playing against each other in the Super Bowl. She had a custom split jersey and shoes made for the event, which was put on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame afterwards.
Kelce was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. He was named First-team All-Pro in 2016 and 2020.
Kelce won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2020. He has also been named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Kelce has set several NFL records for tight ends, including most receiving yards in a single season (1,416 in 2020). He has also set several Chiefs franchise records, including most receptions in a single season (105 in 2018).
Kelce is known for his signature touchdown celebration, which involves pretending to box with the goalpost.
Kelce is also known for his flamboyant style. He launched a clothing line called Tru Kolors in 2023. "I like to show off who I am through what I wear," Travis explains on the brand's website.
Kelce has appeared on several TV shows, including 'The Bachelorette' and 'SNL.' He had his own dating show, 'Catching Kelce,' in 2016.
The show aired on E! for just eight episodes. In it, Kelce dated a woman from every state before deciding who would be the winner.
He later admitted that while the show seemed like a good idea at the time, he wasn't so sure about it afterwards. He described his appearance on it as "extremely awkward," and "a way to make six-figures in two weeks."
Kelce has said that he would like to pursue a career in broadcasting after he retires from football.
He has worked as a guest analyst for NFL Network and Fox Sports, and appeared as a guest on radio shows and podcasts.
Kelce has been involved in several charitable endeavors, including his 87 and Running foundation, which supports underserved children in Kansas City.
In April 2023, Kelce held a music festival in Kansas City, dubbed "Kelce Jam." It featured performances by Machine Gun Kelly, Rick Ross, and DJ duo Loud Luxury.
Kelce had a feature interview in Vanity Fair in 2023. In it, he spoke about his career in-depth and about how his appearance on 'SNL' was a childhood dream come true.
In 2021, Kelce spoke about being committed to continuing the Black Lives Matter cause in Kansas City. Kelce said the Chiefs "lock arms and stand together" on those issues.
Kelce is known for having a close relationship with his mom, Donna, who is an active supporter of her son's career.
Following his split from 'Catching Kelce' contestant Maya Benberry, Kelce went on to date sports broadcaster and model Kayla Nicole.
The couple were in a relationship from 2017, when they met over Instagram. They decided to call it quits five years later in 2022.
Kelce wasn't shy when it came to discussing his romantic interest in Taylor Swift. He publicly declared it on an episode of his podcast with his brother, 'New Heights,' in July 2023.
He spoke about his unsuccessful attempt to give Swift his number at her Kansas City Eras Tour show in July 2023, by adding it onto a friendship bracelet. Sadly, he wasn't able to give it to her.
Rumors began circulating that Swift and Kelce were hanging out, in late summer of 2023. Swift was then seen publicly at one of his games at Arrowhead Stadium, in attendance with his mother, Donna, sending the internet into a tailspin.
Indeed, being linked with Taylor Swift is enough to break the internet. For many Swifties, Travis Kelce was a relative unknown before the pair were seen together publicly, when Swift attended a game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City in September 2023. However, in the sporting world, Kelce is already a star in his own right. A fixture of the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013, Kelce has that athletic, all-American charm, but a colorful past as well.
Swift and Kelce's romance has often taken center stage through the Chiefs' 2023-2024 season. Swift's attendance at the games has caused a stir as the couple became more and more open with their displays of affection. On Sunday, February 11, the Kansas City Chiefs went head-to-head with the San Francisco 49ers in a nail-biting battle for the Super Bowl title. The Chiefs celebrated a spectacular victory for the second year in a row, and of course, Taylor Swift lept into Kelce's arms as the post-match revelry broke out on the field. They tearfully kissed and embraced, surrounded by cameras and the chaos of the celebrations.
Curious to know more about Kelce and their growing relationship? Click on the following gallery to learn all about the tight end.
Since then, Swift has attended countless games to show her enthusiastic support for Kelce, and is often seen hanging out with his parents like they're old friends. The pair aren't shy about embracing on the pitch to celebrate a big win and their PDA grabs headlines every time.
Sources: (Page Six) (Vanity Fair) (Daily Mail) (StyleCaster) (Sports Illustrated) (People)
See also: Taylor Swift's impressive dating history
Taylor Swift's latest flame: Who is Travis Kelce?
Swift tearfully celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl win with Kelce
CELEBRITY Romance
Indeed, being linked with Taylor Swift is enough to break the internet. For many Swifties, Travis Kelce was a relative unknown before the pair were seen together publicly, when Swift attended a game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City in September 2023. However, in the sporting world, Kelce is already a star in his own right. A fixture of the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013, Kelce has that athletic, all-American charm, but a colorful past as well.
Swift and Kelce's romance has often taken center stage through the Chiefs' 2023-2024 season. Swift's attendance at the games has caused a stir as the couple became more and more open with their displays of affection. On Sunday, February 11, the Kansas City Chiefs went head-to-head with the San Francisco 49ers in a nail-biting battle for the Super Bowl title. The Chiefs celebrated a spectacular victory for the second year in a row, and of course, Taylor Swift lept into Kelce's arms as the post-match revelry broke out on the field. They tearfully kissed and embraced, surrounded by cameras and the chaos of the celebrations.
Curious to know more about Kelce and their growing relationship? Click on the following gallery to learn all about the tight end.