Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is no stranger to rivalries, both on the field and off. But in a new marketing twist, he’s chosen to confront a Las Vegas Raiders fan in an unexpected, and hilarious, way: through the DMs.
In a new commercial for Accelerator, the energy drink brand Kelce endorses, a die-hard Raiders fan, decked out in silver and black, admits he’s spent years trolling Kelce online.
“I’ll be honest,” he says in the ad. “I said a lot of mean things to Travis Kelce.” A rapid-fire montage shows messages like “overrated,” “washed,” and “not even top 5” lighting up the screen.
Then, the twist: Kelce responds. Sliding into the fan’s DMs, he sends him a free sample of Accelerator. The fan, surprised but curious, tries it and is unexpectedly impressed. “Low-key, I loved it,” he confesses. “I actually felt energy without crashing an hour later.”
The ad wraps with a comedic shot of Kelce and his former online critic now hanging out on the same couch, laughing and enjoying the drink together.
The lighthearted ad has gone viral across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, with fans loving the idea of a good-natured rivalry being flipped on its head. It’s part of Accelerator’s wider “Upgrade Your Energy” campaign, which aims to connect with younger consumers through humor, authenticity, and star power.
Kelce wins on and off the field
Beyond the ad, Kelce is coming off his most productive game of the season. In the Chiefs’ Week 6 win over the Detroit Lions, he caught six of seven targets from Patrick Mahomes for a total of 78 yards, his highest single-game total this season.
With 28 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns so far, Kelce is proving he still has plenty left in the tank.
The Chiefs, who started the season 0-2, have bounced back and now face the Raiders in Week 7 with added momentum and reinforcement. Wide receiver Rashee Rice is returning from a six-game suspension, and his presence could open up more opportunities for Kelce and the offense.
After contemplating retirement following the Chiefs’ disappointing Super Bowl 59 loss to the Eagles, Kelce chose to return for the 2025 season. His future beyond this year remains uncertain, but ads like this show that his off-field charisma is just as valuable as his on-field contributions.
By turning an online hater into a fan, and a product believer, Kelce manages to blur the lines between rivalry and relatability. The message is clear: in football and life, sometimes the best way to win is with humor and grace.
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