The Kelce Family: Pillars of Support Behind Travis Kelce’s NFL Stardom

Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end, has solidified his place as one of the NFL’s most celebrated players. With three Super Bowl rings, ten Pro Bowl appearances, and a record-breaking career, his achievements on the field are undeniable. However, beyond the touchdowns and accolades, Travis’s success is deeply rooted in the unwavering support of his family: his older brother Jason Kelce, mother Donna Kelce, and father Ed Kelce. Their close-knit bond has not only shaped Travis’s career but also captured public attention, especially amid his widely publicized relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift. This article explores the Kelce family’s dynamic, their roles in Travis’s journey, and how they’ve navigated the spotlight.

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Travis Kelce has been one of the biggest stars in the NFL for the past decade. After getting drafted in 2013, he’s played in ten Pro Bowl games, and he’s won three Super Bowl rings with the team, and he’s aiming for his fourth ring in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Aside from his skills on the field, his love life has long been of much interest to fans, especially after his reality dating show Catching Kelce. Most recently, Travis has made headlines for his romance with pop star Taylor Swift. The “Anti-Hero” singer-songwriter has cheered Travis on at several of his football games, and he’s returned the favor by going to see her Eras Tour.

As the obsession continues over  Travis’ relationship with Taylor, the spotlight has also been on his family members, especially as they’ve spent time with the popstar at the games. His older brother, Jason Kelce was also an NFL player. He played the center for the Philadelphia Eagles for 13 years. The brothers are extremely close with their support parents, Donna and Ed Kelce. Find out more about Travis’ family here!

Jason Kelce

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Travis is the younger brother of fellow NFL star Jason Kelce. Jason joined the NFL as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011, and like his brother, he only played for one team his whole career. As the former center for the Birds, Jason has had similar success to his younger brother, playing in six Pro Bowls, and he won a Super Bowl championship in 2018. The two teams previously faced off in Super Bowl LVII in 2023, where the Kansas City Chiefs were crowned champions. Now, they are set to meet again in Super Bowl LIX, as they are the last two teams remaining.

After the Chiefs defeated the Eagles, it’s clear the brothers were good sports about the game. They were seen hugging on the field after the game. Their mom, Donna, was later seen hugging both boys after the game. After the Super Bowl, Travis congratulated his brother on a game well played. “You joke around all the time and say you want to beat your brother on the biggest stage ever, but it’s a weird feeling. That team had great leadership, great coaches, obviously it came down to the end. We got all the respect in the world for those Eagles. There’s nothing that I could really say to him other than that I love him and he played a hell of a season,” he said in a press conference.

Jason announced his retirement from the NFL in March 2024 following a 13-season career.

While the Kelce brothers have faced off on the field, they’ve both gotten to work together on a variety of projects. They launched the New Heights podcast in 2022. The series features both brothers chatting about their careers in the NFL as well as their personal lives. When Travis hosted Saturday Night Live in March 2023, Jason was there to support him and even appeared in a sketch. As a retired football player, Jason now hosts ESPN’s late-night show, They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce.

Jason has been married to his wife Kylie McDevitt since 2018. The couple have three daughters, welcoming their third just about two weeks after facing off against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Quite a few videos have surfaced of Jason showing off what a great dad he is to three daughters over the years, whether he’s playing with them at home or at the Pro Bowl. In November 2024, they announced that they are expecting their fourth child, another girl, due to arrive in 2025.

Amid Travis’ relationship with Taylor, Jason has been a key figure. Back when the Chiefs player admitted to trying to hand the singer a friendship bracelet with his number on it during The Eras Tour, Jason teased him on their podcast. During the early rumors, the Eagles player was also subjected to questions about his brother’s love life. In one interview, he said that he thought the rumors were “all 100 percent true.” Jason has had some fun with the rumors, tweeting a video of a Swiftie calling out Taylor for dating a Chiefs player, despite saying she was an Eagles fan. “Preach!” he wrote. “Go Birds!”

Jason gave his honest feelings about Travis dating Taylor in an interview with NBC Sports in October 2023. “It’s certainly been weird, the level that it is now,” Jason said. “On one hand, I’m happy for my brother that he seems to be in a relationship that he’s excited about, that he is genuine about. But there’s another end of it where it’s like, ‘Man, this is a lot.’”

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After the Eagles lost in the playoffs for the 2023 season, Jason shifted his attention to cheering on his brother! The Eagles center went viral when he went shirtless and began chugging beers among the fans when the Chiefs faced off against the Buffalo Bills during their playoff game. He also adorably helped a young Swiftie show her sign to his brother’s new girlfriend.

After the fact, Jason did admit that it was the first time that he was meeting Taylor, and he was just trying to make thee best impression he could (despite Kylie’s warnings), which Travis confirmed he did. “She’s like, ‘be on your best behavior.’ I was like, ‘Kylie, the first day I met you I was blacked out drunk and fell asleep at the bar.’ This is part of the charm. This is part of the Jason Kelce charm. I want to make my best first impression. This is my best chance,” he said.

Jason has also paid his compliments to Taylor. He gushed about her in an interview with a local radio station. “She’s a world star, she’s the quintessential, you know, artist right now in the world, singer-songwriter, immensely talented, unbelievable role model for young women across the globe,” he said.

Donna Kelce

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Donna Kelce: The Heart of the Family

Donna Kelce, affectionately known as “Mama Kelce,” is the matriarch who has become a beloved figure in NFL circles. Born and raised in Cleveland, Donna pursued a career in banking, retiring as a senior vice president at Truist in 2021. With a master’s degree, she worked in commercial real estate finance, building housing for underserved communities. Her professional success and resilience—she lost her mother at 12 and navigated a male-dominated industry—shaped her into a role model for her sons.

Donna’s dedication to Jason and Travis is legendary. During the 2022 NFL playoffs, she traveled 1,300 miles in a single day to attend both sons’ games, earning praise from the NFL’s official Twitter account. Her impartial support was evident during Super Bowl LVII, where she wore a split Eagles-Chiefs jersey to cheer for both teams. As the first mother to have sons compete against each other in a Super Bowl, Donna handled the moment with grace, telling Today that she’d keep the peace at Thanksgiving despite the outcome. After the Chiefs’ win, she hugged both sons, later saying, “I’m proud of both of them.”

Donna’s warmth extends to Travis’s relationship with Taylor Swift. When Swift attended her first Chiefs game on September 24, 2023, she sat with Donna in a box suite, sparking a social media frenzy. The pair’s laughter and camaraderie were evident, with Swift grabbing Donna’s arm during exciting plays. Donna has since expressed approval of the romance, telling WSJ. Magazine in November 2023, “He’s happier than I’ve seen him in a long time. God bless him. He shot for the stars!” Her playful nods to Swift-related memes, like those about her game-day snacks, show her ability to embrace the spotlight with humor.

Ed Kelce

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Ed Kelce, Travis and Jason’s father, is a former steel industry sales representative with a no-nonsense approach to parenting. Raised in Cleveland with a military family background, Ed instilled a strong work ethic in his sons, often bringing them to steel mills to show them the realities of manual labor. “I’d tell them, ‘You can have a job like your mother’s, or one like mine,’” he told the Los Angeles Times. His blue-collar values shaped the brothers’ discipline and drive.

Ed and Donna, married for nearly 25 years, separated but remained committed co-parents. In the documentary Kelce, Ed explained that staying together for their sons avoided logistical challenges, ensuring stability for Jason and Travis. During Super Bowl LVII, Ed prepared for an emotional outcome, planning to console the losing son first. His presence at games, often alongside Donna and Swift, highlights his ongoing support.

Ed’s interactions with Swift have been lighthearted but candid. In an October 2023 radio interview, he admitted to not recognizing her initially at a Chiefs game, joking that he felt like “a real idiot.” Travis later shared on New Heights that Ed had become a Swift fan, listening to her music and “pumping her up.” Ed’s down-to-earth nature complements the family’s dynamic, grounding Travis amid his superstar status.

The Kelce Family in the Spotlight

The Kelce family’s unity has been a cornerstone of Travis’s success. Jason’s mentorship, Donna’s unwavering presence, and Ed’s practical guidance have kept him focused through triumphs and challenges. Their embrace of Travis’s relationship with Taylor Swift reflects their openness to his evolving life, even under intense public scrutiny. As Travis aims for a fourth Super Bowl ring in 2025, the Kelces remain his biggest cheerleaders, proving that family is the true foundation of his stardom.