The Kelce brothers have left an indelible mark on the NFL, each carving out a legacy that’s hard to top. Jason Kelce, now retired, was the heart of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ offensive line, leading to a Super Bowl victory in 2017 and a heartbreaking loss to his brother, Travis, in Super Bowl LVII. Travis Kelce, who is still grinding with the Kansas City Chiefs, could be in his final season with three Super Bowl rings and two losses on the big stage. Here’s a fun fact: Both brothers owe a lot of their success to the same coach – Andy Reid. Reid drafted Jason in his penultimate year in Philadelphia, selecting him with the 191st overall pick in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. Two years later, in his first season with Kansas City, he grabbed Travis with the 63rd pick of the third round. Reid is a winner who knows how to identify young talent.
A Draft Day Full of Doubt
Jason Kelce’s draft day wasn’t exactly a Hollywood moment. In a candid chat on 94 WIP, he took fans back to 2011, when he was just another hopeful waiting for his shot. He figured he’d land in the fifth or sixth round, so instead of glued to the TV, he and his family hit a bowling alley in Cincinnati. “I didn’t want to watch every pin go by,” he said, laughing at the memory. But the pins couldn’t calm his nerves. When he got home, he holed up in his room, staring at his phone, half convinced the NFL was about to pass him by.
Then a 215 area code lit up his screen – Philadelphia calling. It was Andy Reid, but the coach didn’t let him in gently. “Have you been in any wrecks? Crashed any cars?” Reid barked. Jason, flustered, managed a “No, I’m fine.” Reid steamrolled ahead, laying out a whirlwind plan for what came next. When Jason admitted that he didn’t understand half of it, Reid hit him: “You’re playing in front of 70,000 fans in Philadelphia – you better get it together.” Tough love? Sure. But it lit a fire under Kelce that never burned out.
From Late-Round Picks to NFL Legends
That chaotic phone call was just the start. Jason stepped up, becoming the first rookie center in Eagles history to start all 16 games-a feat that set the tone for his career. He piled up six Pro Bowl trips, four first-team All-Pro honors, and anchored the line during Philly’s first Super Bowl win in decades. His streak of 122 consecutive starts? That’s the longest in Eagles history, a badge of honor for a guy who turned draft-day jitters into gridiron glory.
Travis, meanwhile, has been a force of nature for the Chiefs, racking up nine Pro Bowls, four All-Pro nods, and three Super Bowl titles. With over 11,000 receiving yards and 69 touchdowns, he’s redefined what a tight end can do. Both brothers turned Reid’s faith into gold.
Here’s a quick look at their stats:
- Jason Kelce: 6× Pro Bowl (2014, 2016, 2019-2022), 4× First-team All-Pro (2017-2019, 2021), Super Bowl LII champ, 156 career starts.
- Travis Kelce: 9× Pro Bowl (2015-2023), 4× First-team All-Pro (2016, 2018, 2020, 2022), 3× Super Bowl champ (LIV, LVII, LVIII)
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