Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Travis Kelce

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Travis Kelce made an impact.

Travis Kelce is a highly accomplished American football tight end currently playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL. Drafted in 2013, Kelce has become a key player for the Chiefs, contributing significantly to their success, including Super Bowl victories in LIV, LVII, and LVIII. Prior to his NFL career, Kelce played college football at the University of Cincinnati, showcasing his talent and potential early on. He is widely regarded as one of the best tight ends in the NFL.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2007: Senior Year Football Stats

In 2007, as a senior at Cleveland Heights High School, Travis Kelce ran for 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns and threw for 1,523 yards and 21 touchdowns.

June 6, 2013: Signed Rookie Contract with Chiefs

On June 6, 2013, Travis Kelce signed a four-year, $3.12 million rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

October 12, 2013: Placed on Injured Reserve

On October 12, 2013, Travis Kelce was placed on injured reserve after having microfracture surgery on his knee.

2013: Longest-Tenured Member

In 2013, Travis Kelce became tied as the Kansas City Chiefs' longest-tenured member of the team.

2013: Drafted by Kansas City Chiefs

In 2013, Travis Kelce was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the NFL draft.

2014: Leading Receiver for Chiefs

In the 2014 season, Travis Kelce was the Chiefs' leading receiver, with 862 yards off 67 receptions.

2015: Created Eighty-Seven & Running Foundation

In 2015, Travis Kelce created a foundation called Eighty-Seven & Running in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, with the goal of "empowering underprivileged youth".

2015: First Pro Bowl Selection

In 2015, Travis Kelce earned his way to his first Pro Bowl after recording 72 catches for 875 yards and five touchdowns.

January 29, 2016: Signed Contract Extension

On January 29, 2016, Travis Kelce signed a five-year, $46 million contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs.

December 20, 2016: Named to Second Pro Bowl

On December 20, 2016, Travis Kelce was named as a starter in his second career Pro Bowl.

December 19, 2017: Named to Third Straight Pro Bowl

On December 19, 2017, Travis Kelce was named to his third straight Pro Bowl.

2017: Kneeled During National Anthem

In 2017, Travis Kelce became one of the highest-profile white NFL players to kneel during the national anthem in protest against police brutality, racism, and social inequalities in America.

2018: Record-Breaking Season

During the 2018 season, Travis Kelce broke the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season, before George Kittle surpassed him later that day. He finished with 1,336 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

2019: Hilo Nutrition Founded

In 2019, Kelce founded his own health brand, Hilo Nutrition, which sells gummy supplements for performance nutrition and other health benefits.

2019: Investment in Cholula Hot Sauce

In 2019, Kelce invested in the private equity firm L Catterton's purchase of the condiment brand Cholula Hot Sauce, expanding his investment portfolio.

2019: Joined Virtual Class Discussions

In 2019, Travis Kelce and other NFL players joined students in virtual class discussions around the U.S. to discuss Black Boys, a Malcolm Jenkins-produced documentary that examines social and emotional effects of racism against Black men.

2019: Surpassed 1,000 Receiving Yards for the Fourth Consecutive Season

In 2019, Travis Kelce became the first tight end in NFL history to record four consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards and was named to his fifth Pro Bowl.

2019: Hosted Meet and Dance Event

In 2019, Travis Kelce hosted a meet and dance event to raise funds for the "Rose Brooks Center", a Kansas City-based organization that provides shelter to women, children, and their pets in situations of domestic violence. In 2019, Kelce participated in a charity celebrity softball game to raise funds for the Lake Health Foundation.

January 2020: Tru Kolors Clothing Brand Launch

In January 2020, Kelce launched his own clothing brand, Tru Kolors, expanding his business ventures.

August 14, 2020: Signed Contract Extension

On August 14, 2020, Travis Kelce signed a four-year, $57 million contract extension with the Chiefs through the 2025 season.

2020: Profit from Cholula Acquisition

In 2020, Kelce earned four times his investment when McCormick & Company acquired Cholula Hot Sauce for $800 million, marking a successful investment venture.

2020: Set NFL Record for Receiving Yards

In 2020, Travis Kelce set the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season, recording 1,416 yards despite playing only 15 games.

2020: Nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

In 2020, the Chiefs nominated Travis Kelce for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. That same year, fans voted him the winner of the NFL's Charity Challenge Award.

2021: Nike x Kelce Sneaker Collection Release

In 2021, Kelce released a signature sneaker collection as part of a deal with Nike, called Nike x Kelce Blazer Mid '77 Vintage which included six shoes inspired by facets of Kelce's life.

August 2022: Kelce's Krunch Cereal Launch

In August 2022, Hy-Vee began manufacturing "Kelce's Krunch", a limited-edition frosted cornflakes breakfast cereal endorsed by Kelce, with proceeds benefiting his charity foundation.

September 2022: New Heights Podcast Launch

In September 2022, Travis Kelce and his brother Jason launched a weekly sports podcast called New Heights, discussing NFL news and their games, marking a new chapter in their careers.

2022: Reached 10,000 Career Receiving Yards

During the 2022 season, Travis Kelce reached 10,000 career receiving yards, becoming the fastest NFL tight end to reach this milestone.

2022: Sports Podcast of the Year

In 2022, New Heights was named the Sports Podcast of the Year by Sports Illustrated, marking an achievement for the Kelce brothers' media venture.

2022: Tru Kolors and Chiefs Collaboration

In 2022, Tru Kolors became the first brand by an NFL player to launch an official merchandise collaboration with the Kansas City Chiefs, marking a significant achievement.

February 2023: Podcast Popularity Surge

In February 2023, the New Heights podcast experienced a rise in popularity when Travis and Jason Kelce faced off in Super Bowl LVII, reaching top positions on podcast charts.

April 2023: Kelce Jam Launch

In April 2023, Travis Kelce launched his annual music festival called Kelce Jam in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The event featured artists like Machine Gun Kelly and sold out quickly, marking a new venture for Kelce.

May 2023: Signed with Creative Artists Agency

In May 2023, Travis Kelce signed with Creative Artists Agency for off-the-field representation while keeping his agent for his NFL representation.

September 2023: New Heights No. 1 Sports Podcast

After the premiere of the second season in September 2023, New Heights became the No. 1 sports podcast in the U.S. and globally on Spotify as well as No. 1 among all podcasts on Apple.

October 2023: Travis Kelce's Kitchen Launch

In October 2023, Kelce and Walmart launched Travis Kelce's Kitchen, a line of seven barbecue products inspired by the flavors of Kansas City, further diversifying his business portfolio.

2023: Surpassed Jerry Rice in Playoff Receptions

During the 2023 season, Travis Kelce surpassed Jerry Rice in career playoff receptions and won Super Bowl LVIII.

2023: Estimated Earnings

In 2023, Business Insider estimated that Kelce makes $5 million a year in off-the-field earnings, recognizing him as one of football's most successful endorsers.

2023: Investment in Alpine F1 Team

In 2023, Kelce joined a group of investors, including actor Ryan Reynolds and teammate Mahomes, to buy a stake in Alpine, a UK-based French Formula One team, diversifying his investments into sports.

2023: Increased Interest in Chiefs and NFL

In 2023, Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift stimulated interest in the Chiefs and the NFL, boosting viewership and sales.

January 21, 2024: Most-Watched Divisional Playoff Game

On January 21, 2024, the Chiefs–Buffalo Bills game became the most-watched NFL divisional playoff game ever and the most-watched program on any network since Super Bowl LVII, driven by increased interest due to Kelce's relationship.

April 29, 2024: Signed Two-Year Extension with Chiefs

On April 29, 2024, Travis Kelce signed a two-year extension with the Chiefs for a reported $34.25 million, making him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.

June 2024: Eras Tour Concert Appearance

In June 2024, Kelce joined Swift onstage at her Eras Tour concert in Wembley Stadium, dancing during her performance of "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart".

2024: Partnership with Garage Beer

In 2024, Kelce teamed up with his brother Jason as significant owners and operators of the light beer company Garage Beer.

2024: Donated to Family of Shooting Victims

In 2024, Travis Kelce donated $100,000 to the family of two children who were seriously wounded in the 2024 Kansas City parade shooting. Kelce is among the Kansas City celebrities who have hosted the Big Slick charity event and gala, which benefits the Cancer Center at Children's Mercy Hospital; in 2024, Kelce and teammate Mahomes contributed game-worn Chiefs jerseys to a lot of NFL items that went for $250,000 at the charity auction.

2024: Kelce Jam Second Edition

In 2024, the second edition of Kelce Jam saw 20,000 fans in attendance with headlining performances from 2 Chainz, Diplo and Lil Wayne, showing growth in the festival's popularity.

February 27, 2025: Announced Return for 2025 Season

On February 27, 2025, Travis Kelce announced that he will play in the 2025 season in what will be his final year under contract with Kansas City.

2025: Most Fan Votes for Pro Bowl Games

Kelce's relationship with Swift has significantly increased his popularity with casual and non-NFL fans who were more familiar with Swift, such as resulting in him receiving the most fan votes for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.