History of Travis Kelce in Timeline
Travis Kelce is a prominent American football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. Drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, he has since become a key player for the team. Kelce has achieved significant success, winning Super Bowls LIV, LVII, and LVIII with the Chiefs. Prior to his NFL career, he played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats.
1986: Release of "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)"
In 1986, the Beastie Boys released the song "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)", which Travis Kelce later became known for reciting during team celebrations.
1987: Release of "Fairytale of New York"
In 1987, The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, released the song "Fairytale of New York". A parody of the song titled "Fairytale of Philadelphia", featuring Travis and Jason Kelce, was later released in 2023.
October 5, 1989: Travis Kelce's Birth
On October 5, 1989, Travis Michael Kelce was born. He later became a professional football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
2007: Senior Year Football Stats
In 2007, as a senior at Cleveland Heights High School, Travis Kelce rushed for 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns and threw for 1,523 yards, 21 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, earning him All-Lake Erie League honors.
2008: Redshirt Year at Cincinnati
In 2008, Travis Kelce redshirted at the University of Cincinnati.
2009: Debut at Cincinnati
In 2009, Travis Kelce appeared in 11 games for the Cincinnati Bearcats, playing at tight end and quarterback out of the wildcat formation. He had eight rushes for 47 yards and two touchdowns and one reception for three yards.
2010: Suspension from Cincinnati Bearcats
In 2010, Travis Kelce was suspended for the season after testing positive for marijuana, a violation of team rules while playing for the Cincinnati Bearcats.
2011: Jason Kelce Drafted by Eagles
In 2011, Andy Reid drafted Jason Kelce, Travis's brother, while he was the head coach of the Eagles. This connection later influenced Travis Kelce's draft by the Chiefs.
2011: Returns to Cincinnati Bearcats
In 2011, Travis Kelce returned to the Cincinnati Bearcats, playing tight end and recording 13 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
2012: Final Collegiate Season
In 2012, Travis Kelce had his last collegiate season, setting personal season highs in receptions (45), receiving yards (722), yards per reception (16.0), and receiving touchdowns (8).
March 2013: College Football Performance Awards Tight End of the Year
In March 2013, Travis Kelce was named the College Football Performance Awards Tight End of the Year.
June 6, 2013: Signs with Kansas City Chiefs
On June 6, 2013, Travis Kelce signed a four-year, $3.12 million rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, including a signing bonus of $703,304.
October 12, 2013: Placed on Injured Reserve
On October 12, 2013, Travis Kelce was placed on injured reserve after having microfracture surgery performed on his knee.
2013: Drafted by Kansas City Chiefs
In 2013, Travis Kelce was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the NFL draft.
2014: Leading Receiver for Chiefs
During the 2014 season, Travis Kelce was the Chiefs' leading receiver, totaling 862 yards off 67 receptions.
2015: First Pro Bowl Selection
In 2015, Travis Kelce started all 16 regular season games, recorded 72 catches for 875 yards and five touchdowns, and earned his way to his first Pro Bowl.
January 2016: Stars in Catching Kelce
In January 2016, Kelce starred in the E! Entertainment Television dating show "Catching Kelce", choosing Maya Benberry as the winner.
January 29, 2016: Signs Contract Extension
On January 29, 2016, Travis Kelce signed a five-year, $46 million contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs.
April 2016: Began Dating Maya Benberry
In April 2016, Travis Kelce started dating Maya Benberry, the winner of his dating show, after the show ended.
December 20, 2016: Named Pro Bowl Starter
On December 20, 2016, Travis Kelce was named as a starter in his second career Pro Bowl.
2016: Ranked 91st on NFL Top 100
In 2016, Travis Kelce was ranked 91st by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
January 2017: Breakup with Maya Benberry
In January 2017, Maya Benberry confirmed that she and Travis Kelce had broken up.
December 19, 2017: Named to Pro Bowl
On December 19, 2017, Travis Kelce was named to his third straight Pro Bowl.
2017: Ranked 26th on NFL Top 100
In 2017, Travis Kelce was ranked 26th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
2018: Ranked 21st on NFL Top 100
In 2018, Travis Kelce was ranked 21st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
2018: First-Team All-Pro Selection
In the 2018 season, Travis Kelce was named to the Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro. He finished the regular season with 103 receptions and 1,336 receiving yards.
2019: AFC Championship Celebration
In 2019, Travis Kelce began reciting the chorus from the Beastie Boys' 1986 song "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" during team celebrations, starting after the 2019 AFC Championship Game.
2019: Founding of Hilo Nutrition
In 2019, Travis 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, Travis Kelce invested in L Catterton's purchase of the condiment brand Cholula Hot Sauce.
2019: Fifth Pro Bowl Selection
In 2019, Travis Kelce was named to his fifth Pro Bowl. He also became the first tight end in NFL history to record four consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards.
January 2020: Launch of Tru Kolors Clothing Brand
In January 2020, Travis Kelce launched his own clothing brand, Tru Kolors.
August 14, 2020: Contract Extension
On August 14, 2020, Kelce signed a four-year, $57 million contract extension with the Chiefs, keeping him with the team through the 2025 season.
2020: Appears in Moonbase 8
In 2020, Kelce appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the first episode of the comedy series Moonbase 8.
2020: Sale of Cholula Hot Sauce
In 2020, Travis Kelce earned four times his investment when McCormick & Company acquired Cholula Hot Sauce for $800 million.
2020: Single Season Receiving Yards Record
In 2020, Travis Kelce set the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season with 1,416 yards, despite playing in only 15 games.
2020: Ranked 18th on NFL Top 100
In 2020, Travis Kelce was ranked 18th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
December 20, 2021: Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 List
On December 20, 2021, Kelce was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
December 25, 2021: Activated from Reserve/COVID-19 List
On December 25, 2021, Kelce was activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, but was ruled out of the next game due to NFL protocols.
2021: Signature Sneaker Collection with Nike
In 2021, Travis Kelce released a signature sneaker collection as part of a deal with Nike called Nike x Kelce Blazer Mid '77 Vintage, including six shoes inspired by his life and team colors.
August 2022: Launch of "Kelce's Krunch" Cereal
In August 2022, Hy-Vee began manufacturing "Kelce's Krunch", a limited-edition frosted cornflakes breakfast cereal endorsed by Travis Kelce, with a portion of proceeds donated to his charity foundation.
September 2022: Launch of "New Heights" Podcast
In September 2022, Travis Kelce and his brother Jason launched the "New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce" podcast, produced with Wave Sports + Entertainment, discussing NFL news and their games. The podcast is broadcast on YouTube and released in video and audio formats.
2022: 10,000 Career Receiving Yards
During the 2022 season, Travis Kelce became the fifth NFL tight end to reach 10,000 career receiving yards, achieving this milestone faster than any other tight end in NFL history.
2022: Kelce Graduates from Cincinnati
In 2022, Travis Kelce graduated with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree from the University of Cincinnati.
2022: Tru Kolors Collaboration with Kansas City Chiefs
In 2022, Travis Kelce's brand, Tru Kolors, became the first brand by an NFL player to launch an official merchandise collaboration with an NFL franchise: the Kansas City Chiefs.
2022: End of Relationship with Kayla Nicole Brown
In 2022, Travis Kelce's relationship with social media influencer Kayla Nicole Brown ended; they had been together since 2017.
2022: "New Heights" Named Sports Podcast of the Year
In 2022, the "New Heights" podcast was named the Sports Podcast of the Year by Sports Illustrated.
February 2023: Podcast Popularity Surge
In February 2023, the "New Heights" podcast experienced a rise in popularity as Travis and Jason faced off in Super Bowl LVII. It reached No. 1 in Apple sports podcasts and No. 3 on Spotify in all podcast categories.
March 4, 2023: Hosts Saturday Night Live
On March 4, 2023, Kelce hosted Saturday Night Live, appearing in a sketch with his brother Jason and SNL cast members Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman.
April 2023: Launch of Kelce Jam
In April 2023, Travis Kelce announced the launch of his annual music festival called Kelce Jam, held in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The inaugural event featured Machine Gun Kelly, Rick Ross, Loud Luxury and Tech N9ne and quickly sold out.
May 2023: Signed with Creative Artists Agency
In May 2023, Kelce signed with Creative Artists Agency for off-the-field representation.
September 11, 2023: Kelce Documentary Release
On September 11, 2023, "Kelce", a feature-length documentary about his brother Jason's football career and private life, was released on Amazon Prime.
October 14, 2023: Cameo Appearance on Saturday Night Live
On October 14, 2023, Kelce made a cameo appearance on the Saturday Night Live episode.
2023: Kelce's Endorsement Earnings Estimated
In 2023, Business Insider estimated that Travis Kelce makes $5 million a year in off-the-field earnings and stated that "he was one of football's most successful endorsers."
2023: Release of "Fairytale of Philadelphia"
In 2023, Travis Kelce and his brother Jason were featured on the cover of "Fairytale of Philadelphia", a rendition of "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, for the album A Philly Special Christmas Special. Proceeds benefited Philadelphia charities. The song topped the US iTunes chart.
2023: Began Dating Taylor Swift
In 2023, Travis Kelce began dating singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, with the media frequently describing them as a "supercouple."
2023: Investment in Alpine F1 Team
In 2023, Travis Kelce joined a group of investors, including Ryan Reynolds and teammate Mahomes, to buy a stake in Alpine, a UK-based French Formula One team.
2023: Participation in The Match VIII and American Century Championship
In 2023, Travis Kelce participated in The Match VIII, teaming up with Patrick Mahomes against Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and winning. He also won the long drive contest at the American Century Championship.
2023: Performance on The Tonight Show
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: Super Bowl LVIII Win
In 2023, Travis Kelce won Super Bowl LVIII, marking his fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons. He also surpassed Jerry Rice in career playoff receptions.
2023: Increased Interest in NFL Due to Relationship
In 2023, Travis Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift stimulated interest in the Chiefs and the NFL, breaking viewership, ticket sales, and merchandise sales records.
January 21, 2024: Record Viewership for Chiefs-Bills 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.
April 2024: Diploma Received During Podcast Event
In April 2024, Travis Kelce received his diploma during a podcast event at the Fifth Third Arena with his brother Jason.
April 29, 2024: Signs Two-Year Extension
On April 29, 2024, Kelce signed a two-year extension with the Chiefs for $34.25 million, making him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
June 2024: Onstage Appearance at Eras Tour
In June 2024, Travis Kelce joined Taylor Swift onstage at her Wembley Stadium concert from the Eras Tour during her performance of "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart".
2024: Ranked Ninth on NFL Top 100 Players of 2024
In 2024, Kelce was ranked ninth by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024.
2024: Ownership Stake in Garage Beer
In 2024, Travis Kelce teamed up with his brother Jason as significant owners and operators of the light beer company Garage Beer.
2024: Hosts Are You Smarter than a Celebrity?
In 2024, it was announced that 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: Podcast Ranking
In 2024, the podcast "New Heights", co-hosted by Travis Kelce and his brother Jason, was ranked as the 8th most popular podcast in the United States on Apple Podcasts.
February 27, 2025: Announcement to Play in 2025 Season
On February 27, 2025, Kelce announced that he would play in the 2025 season, his final year under contract with Kansas City.
March 2025: "New Heights" wins IHeartRadio Award
In March 2025, the New Heights podcast won the Best Sports Podcast award at the IHeartRadio podcast awards.
August 2025: Swift Announces album on New Heights and Engagement
In August 2025, Taylor Swift announced details of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl on New Heights. Later that month, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift became engaged. Their engagement announcement became one of Instagram's top 10 most-liked and reposted posts.
August 2025: Design collaboration with American Eagle Outfitters
In August 2025, Travis Kelce launched a design collaboration with American Eagle Outfitters.
October 2025: Partnership with Jana Partners to Improve Six Flags
In October 2025, Travis Kelce partnered with activist investment firm Jana Partners and other investors to push American theme park company Six Flags to improve its marketing and guest experiences.
October 25, 2025: Breaks Franchise Record for Total Touchdowns
On October 25, 2025, in a game against the Denver Broncos, Kelce broke the franchise record for total touchdowns with his eighty-fourth overall. He had nine total catches for 91 yards in the game.
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