Travis Kelce’s Wild Draft Night: Shocking Revelations from 2013

In the annals of NFL draft history, few stories are as electrifying and raw as Travis Kelce’s recollection of his 2013 draft night. The Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar tight end, now a household name and three-time Super Bowl champion, recently peeled back the curtain on a night filled with unexpected twists, bold promises, and a phone call that changed his life forever. In a candid interview, Kelce shared a rollercoaster of emotions, from shattered expectations to a fateful conversation with Andy Reid that set the stage for his legendary career. Buckle up—this is the untold story of how Travis Kelce went from the fifth tight end selected to one of the greatest ever to play the game.

The Build-Up: A Dream on the Line

In the spring of 2013, Travis Kelce was a towering 6’5”, 255-pound tight end from the University of Cincinnati, brimming with confidence and raw talent. Coming off a stellar college career, where he racked up 722 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his senior year, Kelce was certain he’d be the first tight end off the board in the NFL Draft. “I thought I was gonna be the guy,” Kelce recalled, his voice tinged with the cocky swagger that’s become his trademark. “I mean, I had the tape, the measurables, the attitude. In my mind, it was a done deal.”

Kelce’s pre-draft process only fueled his confidence. Teams across the league were buzzing about his rare combination of size, speed, and route-running savvy. One team, in particular, seemed ready to bet big on the brash young tight end: the New York Jets. Kelce’s meeting with then-head coach Rex Ryan was nothing short of electric. “Rex was my kind of guy,” Kelce said. “Loud, in-your-face, no BS. We hit it off immediately. He told me straight-up, ‘It’s between you and Geno [Smith]. If Geno’s there, we’re taking him. If not, you’re our guy.’”

For Kelce, it felt like destiny. The Jets, picking ninth overall, were poised to make a splash, and Kelce could already picture himself hauling in passes in the Big Apple. But as draft night approached, whispers of uncertainty began to creep in. Other tight ends—Tyler Eifert, Zach Ertz, Gavin Escobar, and Vance McDonald—were climbing draft boards, threatening to steal Kelce’s spotlight. Still, he remained unshaken. “I wasn’t worried,” Kelce said. “I knew what I brought to the table. Nobody could match my energy.”

Draft Night Drama: A Fall from Grace

When the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft kicked off, Kelce was glued to his TV, surrounded by family and friends in his hometown of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. As pick after pick rolled in, his name remained unspoken. The Jets, true to Ryan’s word, selected quarterback Geno Smith at No. 13, leaving Kelce to stew in disappointment. “I was pissed,” he admitted. “Not at Geno—he’s a great dude—but I thought I was their guy. That one stung.”

As the rounds progressed, Kelce’s frustration grew. Tyler Eifert went to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 21. Zach Ertz was snapped up by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round. By the time the third round rolled around, Gavin Escobar and Vance McDonald had also been picked, leaving Kelce as the fifth tight end selected. “Fifth? Fifth?” Kelce said, shaking his head. “Man, that lit a fire under me. I was ready to prove everybody wrong.”

But the draft wasn’t just about bruised egos. Off-the-field concerns had also clouded Kelce’s stock. A suspension during his junior year at Cincinnati for a violation of team rules had raised red flags for some teams, painting him as a potential risk. “I wasn’t perfect,” Kelce admitted. “I was young, dumb, and having too much fun. But I knew I could ball, and I was ready to show it.”

The Call That Changed Everything

As the third round dragged on, Kelce’s phone remained silent. The St. Louis Rams, coached by Jeff Fisher, were a team Kelce had written off entirely. “St. Louis was a mess back then,” he said with a laugh. “Fisher was getting roasted online, and I was like, ‘Please, not there.’ Missouri was the last place I wanted to go.” So when his phone lit up with a Missouri area code, Kelce’s heart sank. “I saw that 816 number, and I was like, ‘Oh, hell no,’” he recalled. “I thought it was the Rams. I was ready to chuck my phone out the window.”

But when he answered, the voice on the other end wasn’t Jeff Fisher—it was Andy Reid, the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. “I’m like, ‘Hey, Coach Reid, how you doing?’” Kelce said, mimicking his nervous tone. “And he just cuts right to it: ‘Are you gonna f*ck this up, man?’ I was caught off guard, like, ‘Huh?’ But I knew what he meant. He was asking if I was serious, if I was ready to put the college stuff behind me.”

Kelce didn’t hesitate. “I told him, ‘No, Coach. I’m gonna be the best tight end you’ve ever coached.’ I meant every word.” Reid, apparently satisfied, delivered one final surprise. “He says, ‘Alright, now hand the phone to your brother,’” Kelce recalled, referring to his older brother, Jason Kelce, who was already a star center for the Philadelphia Eagles. “I’m like, ‘What? Jason’s here, but why?’ Turns out, Reid wanted to make sure I had a support system, someone to keep me in check. That’s when I knew this guy was different.”

Moments later, the Chiefs made it official, selecting Kelce with the 63rd overall pick. The room erupted in celebration, but for Kelce, the moment was bittersweet. “I was thrilled to be a Chief, but I was still pissed about falling to the third round,” he said. “I had a chip on my shoulder the size of Missouri.”

The Aftermath: A Star Is Born

What followed is the stuff of NFL legend. Under Reid’s guidance, Kelce transformed from a raw talent into a generational superstar. His rookie season was marred by a knee injury, but by 2014, he was turning heads, hauling in 67 catches for 862 yards and five touchdowns. Year after year, Kelce shattered records, earning nine straight Pro Bowl nods, four first-team All-Pro honors, and three Super Bowl rings alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Looking back, Kelce credits that draft-night conversation with Reid as a turning point. “Andy didn’t sugarcoat it,” he said. “He challenged me from the jump, and I respect that. He saw something in me I didn’t even see in myself.” As for the teams that passed on him? Kelce harbors no grudges—well, mostly. “The Jets, man,” he said with a grin. “Thank goodness they took Geno. I wouldn’t be a Chief otherwise.”

A Legacy Forged in Fire

Travis Kelce’s 2013 draft night wasn’t just a moment—it was a crucible that forged one of the NFL’s all-time greats. From the sting of being the fifth tight end selected to the life-changing call from Andy Reid, Kelce’s journey is a testament to resilience, talent, and a refusal to back down. Today, as he continues to rewrite the record books and cement his Hall of Fame credentials, Kelce’s story serves as a reminder: sometimes, the greatest victories come from the deepest disappointments.

As for that promise to Reid—to be the best tight end he’d ever coached? Kelce has more than delivered. “I’m still working on it,” he said with a wink. “But I think I’m pretty damn close.”