Childhood and Education Journey of Travis Kelce in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Travis Kelce. A timeline of key moments.

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

1986: Beastie Boys Release "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)"

In 1986, the Beastie Boys released their song "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)", which Travis Kelce would become known for reciting during Chiefs' Super Bowl celebrations.

October 5, 1989: Travis Kelce's Birth

On October 5, 1989, Travis Michael Kelce was born. He later became a professional football tight end.

Others born on this day/year

2003: New England Patriots Super Bowl Champions

In 2003, The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl.

2004: New England Patriots Super Bowl Champions Again

In 2004, The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl.

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.

2008: Redshirted at Cincinnati

In 2008, Travis Kelce redshirted at the University of Cincinnati.

2009: Appeared in 11 games

In 2009, Travis Kelce appeared in 11 games for the Cincinnati Bearcats, playing at tight end and quarterback, and tallied 47 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

2010: Suspended for Marijuana Use

In 2010, Travis Kelce was suspended for the season after testing positive for marijuana, violating team rules.

2011: Returned to Play Tight End

In 2011, Travis Kelce returned to the Cincinnati Bearcats, playing tight end and recording 13 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

2012: Set Collegiate Season Highs

In 2012, Travis Kelce set personal season highs in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in his last collegiate season.

March 2013: Named Tight End of the Year

In March 2013, Travis Kelce was named the College Football Performance Awards Tight End of the Year.

January 2016: Starred in "Catching Kelce"

In January 2016, Travis Kelce starred in the E! Entertainment Television dating show Catching Kelce, ultimately choosing Maya Benberry as the winner.

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: Recited Beastie Boys song after AFC Championship

In 2019, Travis Kelce became known for reciting the chorus from the Beastie Boys' 1986 song "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" during team celebrations, first after the AFC Championship Game.

January 2020: Tru Kolors Clothing Brand Launch

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

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: Appeared in "Moonbase 8"

In 2020, Travis Kelce appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the first episode of the comedy series Moonbase 8.

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.

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: Graduation

In 2022, Travis Kelce graduated with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree.

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.

March 4, 2023: Hosted Saturday Night Live

On March 4, 2023, Travis Kelce hosted Saturday Night Live, appearing in a sketch with his brother Jason and SNL cast members Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman.

March 5, 2023: Hosted Saturday Night Live

On March 5, 2023, Travis Kelce hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live.

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.

September 11, 2023: Featured in "Kelce" Documentary

On September 11, 2023, Travis Kelce was featured in Kelce, a feature-length documentary about his brother Jason's football career and private life that was released on Amazon Prime and became the most-watched movie among U.S. subscribers within 24 hours.

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 14, 2023: Made Cameo on SNL

On October 14, 2023, Travis Kelce made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live.

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: 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.

2023: Became Executive Producer

In 2023, Travis Kelce became an executive producer of the war comedy-drama film My Dead Friend Zoe (2024) and of the documentary King Pleasure about the life of American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

2023: Began Dating Taylor Swift

In 2023, Travis Kelce began dating singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, leading to widespread media attention.

2023: Performed with Jimmy Fallon

In 2023, Travis Kelce performed the Beastie Boys song "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.

2023: Featured on "Fairytale of Philadelphia"

In 2023, Travis Kelce was featured with his brother Jason on the cover of "Fairytale of New York" (1987) by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, titled "Fairytale of Philadelphia", which appeared on the 2023 album A Philly Special Christmas Special.

2023: Long Drive Contest Win

In 2023, during the American Century Championship, Kelce won the long drive contest, showcasing his golfing skills.

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 2024: Received Diploma at Podcast Event

In April 2024, Travis Kelce received his diploma during a podcast event with his brother Jason at the Fifth Third Arena.

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: Contributed Vocals to "It's Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)"

In 2024, Travis Kelce returned to contribute vocals to the song "It's Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights) on A Philly Special Christmas Party.

2024: Cast in Ryan Murphy's "Grotesquerie"

In 2024, Travis Kelce was cast in his first major acting role in Ryan Murphy's FX horror series Grotesquerie where he will star opposite Niecy Nash-Betts, Courtney B. Vance, and Lesley Manville.

2024: Announced as Host of "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?"

In 2024, it was announced that Travis Kelce will host a reboot for the game show Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? on Amazon Prime Video The show will be titled Are You Smarter than a Celebrity? with a 20-episode season.

2024: "New Heights" Podcast Popularity

In 2024, the podcast "New Heights," co-hosted by Travis Kelce, was ranked as the 8th most popular podcast in the US on Apple Podcasts.

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.

January 2025: Revealed Croatian Ancestry

In their January 2025 podcast, the Kelce brothers revealed their Croatian ancestry.

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.