Jason and Travis Kelce Mania! From Football to Family, Inside the Brothers’ ‘Surreal’ World (Exclusive)

On Monday night, as Philadelphia Eagles fans watched the seconds tick down on their team’s season — and tears welled up in star center Jason Kelce’s eyes, signaling an apparent decision to hang up his cleats — it was hard not to feel the end of an era.

“Thirteen seasons. Seven-time pro bowler. Six-time All-Pro. One Super Bowl. One no. 1 podcast. And one title of Sexiest Man Alive,” ESPN analyst Pat McAfee said the next day on his show, marking Jason’s career accomplishments. “Hell Run…”

But for Brothers Kelce, it appears the “run” is nowhere near over, even if Jason played his last loss in the NFL.

Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce: Everything you need to know about the NFL brothers

If last February’s Super Bowl LVII, in which Travis’ Kansas City Chiefs beat Jason’s Eagles, launched the dizzying hype of Kelce Mania, the months that followed—filled with their chart-topping New Heights podcast, record-breaking Amazon Prime documentary Kelcea slew of endorsements and Travis’ high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift (which helped boost NFL viewership by more than 2 million women) — only added to the fascination.

“It’s been a really surreal and fun ride,” their mother, Donna Kelce, 71, tells PEOPLE of her unique take on the phenomenon.

“Being able to be with my kids — experiences, places, enjoying people I’ve never met before. And I am very happy that I can enjoy the fruits of my labor, because it is [been] tough ride to where they are now.”

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Jason and Travis Kelce cover.

The secret to the Kelces’ success is their easygoing charm and undeniable authenticity (and their unfailing willingness to tease each other about what their personal scented candle would smell like) — and father Ed Kelce, 72, says effortless sibling banter is nothing new.

“I’ve been listening to crap between these [two] since they were little kids,” he told PEOPLE last October. “The way they communicate in the podcast, that’s how they’ve always been. And that was always fun to watch.”

Jason and Travis grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, playing every sport they could and doing a fair amount of well-intentioned mischief, like when a bocce ball found its way through the windshield of the family car. (“That sort of thing happened all the time growing up,” Donna admits.) But they learned a fierce commitment to each other through their parents’ commitment to them.

Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce at the pregame game against the Boston Celtics against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty

“My brother didn’t have children, and my husband’s sister didn’t either,” explains Donna. “[Jason and Travis] yelled at me because they had no relatives to play with on Christmas. We were closely related, always trying to help each other as much as we could.”

As Travis told PEOPLE last April about what he learned from his parents, who stayed together for the sake of their children until Travis left to join Jason at the University of Cincinnati: “My whole growing up [was about learning] for fuel for people. . . . I was always taught to be a fountain, not a drain, [to] to provide something instead [taking].”

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These days, both Jason and Travis have a lot to offer—and a lot to devote to secondary acts whenever the time comes, from their growing media empire to investments in everything from F1 racing (Travis) to a cattle farm in Missouri ( Jason).

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) after the game at Arrowhead Stadium.

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Recently, Travis’ management team revealed The New York Times their vision to make the nine-time Pro Bowl tight end “known as the Rock,” referencing Dwayne Johnson’s transition from WWE star to A-list actor.

“He really enjoyed it Saturday night live,” a source told PEOPLE about Travis’ guest appearance in March 2023. “He had a blast. After he retires, he wants to devote himself to acting and directing.”

For now, Travis will continue to hone his charisma on the New Heights podcast, alongside Jason, his most valuable player. “They are just as competitive as adults today, they are always pushing each other [about] who’s the best,” Donna says, laughing. “It doesn’t stop. They are each other’s biggest fans.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education