Everything You Need to Know About NFL Star Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce has made countless headlines because of his relationship with mega-star Taylor Swift. After the pair started dating in the summer of 2023, the relationship blossomed into a high-profile romance that's sure to go down in history as a major pop culture moment—thanks in part to the "Taylor Effect." But guys, let's get one thing straight: As adorable as Kelce and Swift are together, there's more to the Kansas City Chiefs tight-end than his dating status.

For one, he's considered one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, having broken multiple records and won three Super Bowl games. And though he and the Chiefs didn't walk away with a fourth trophy in 2025, Travis is still keeping in good spirits.

On his podcast, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, he said, "I love my teammates; I love my coaches…I have loved ones; I have the most amazing family in the world that supports me in everything I do. Everyone was there to at least make it feel like it wasn’t the worst day of my life."

Aside from his exciting love life, the NFL star still boasts an incredibly supportive team, a promising acting career and several lucrative business ventures. Keep reading for all the details.

• Hometown: Westlake, Ohio
• Birthday: October 5, 1989
• Star Sign: Libra

Early Life & Rise to Fame

Kelce was born to Ed and Donna Kelce in Westlake, Ohio. He and his brother, Jason, were born exactly 23 months apart, and they both attended Cleveland Heights High School, where they both played football. However, Travis was also into basketball—and his skills on the court earned him a few unique nicknames: T, T-Rex and Traveling Tav.

He told Parade, “I think 'T' for ‘Travis,’ and T-Rex was kind of, like, a mind frame. Like a mindset. Or it was because I was just, like, fat with short arms." He added, "It was that and Traveling Trav" because he "did not like to dribble."

Fortunately, though, his success on the football field in high school earned him offers from schools like Akron, Eastern Michigan and Miami University, but he ultimately followed in his big brother's footsteps and accepted a scholarship from the University of Cincinnati. 

Travis played as a quarterback and tight end for the Bearcats, and in 2013, he was named the College Football Performance Awards Tight End of the Year. He also completed his Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

However, his big break came during the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, when he was selected by the Chiefs. Travis has since helped his team win three Super Bowls (LIV, LVII, and LVIII).

Among his many sports achievements are the NFL records for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season and the most consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards by a tight end. In 2022, the 10-time Pro Bowler also became the fifth NFL tight end to reach 10,000 career receiving yards (and hit the milestone faster than every other player). Talk about impressive.

Personal Life

Guys, fun fact: Kelce used to star in his own dating show, and it was called Catching Kelce. In April 2016, when Maya Benberry became the winner of his dating show, the two officially began dating. However, in January 2017, they broke up, and Kelce went on to date social media influencer Kayla Nicole Brown from 2017 to 2022.

In 2023, Kelce started to date Taylor Swift—and to say that his popularity soared would be an understatement. The pair not only made countless headlines, but Swift's influence actually boosted the NFL's viewership and revenue. The happy couple has been spotted out on date nights, and they've proven to be each other's number-one fan. While Travis popped up at multiple live shows (including an on-stage cameo!) during Swift's massive Eras Tour, Swift has attended quite a few of Kelce's games to cheer him on.

I’ve never dated anyone with that kind of aura about them…I’ve never dealt with it. But at the same time, I’m not running away from any of it.

Travis Kelce

During his appearance on The Stephen A. Show, he gushed about his partner and said, "Me and Taylor are happy, and I couldn't be happier to have that, you know, that confidence and that comfort off the field...[Taylor's] fully encouraging me to enjoy playing this game. She loves coming to Arrowhead [Stadium] and coming to the games and cheering for me, so I got all the support in the world to keep chasing these dreams."

Family

Believe it or not, Kelce's parents, Donna and Ed, met while Donna was on her way to another date—and she never made it because the two struck up a conversation that lasted for hours. The couple wound up tying the knot during the '70s and stayed married for 25 years, welcoming their two boys, Travis and Jason.

Now, it appears that Travis has a tight-knit relationship with everyone in his family—especially his big brother (and former center for the Philadelphia Eagles), Jason. The retired athlete—who is currently part of ESPN's Monday Night Countdown pregame crew—has previously opened up about his bond with Travis and discussed his greatest strengths. On an episode of Fitz & Whit, he said, “One of the things I love so much about Travis is that he never grew up. He was like Peter Pan, the lost boys...He is growing up. He’s still got that youthful enthusiasm. I think he’ll kind of always have that. It’s just part of his personality.”

Their mother, Donna, has also been vocal about their sibling rivalry and how it impacted their success. She told People in 2024, "Being able to be with my kids—the experiences, the places, enjoying people I’ve never met before. And I’m very happy they get to enjoy the fruits of their labor, because it’s [been] a tough ride to get where they are now."

Personal Style

We're all used to seeing the tight-end decked out in red and white. But when he's off the field, he dresses to impress, rocking ensembles that range from bomber jackets and layered denim to tailored designer suits. He has also donned quite a few memorable outfits while spotted on his date nights with Swift—like when the pair coordinated their outfits in October 2024.

Net Worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Kelce is worth an estimated $90 million. After a decade with the NFL, the star athlete made about $80 million, and in 2024, he signed a two-year $34 million extension with the Chiefs, which calculates to a yearly salary of $17 million. In addition, Kelce makes approximately $5 million per year from endorsements with companies like Nike, Bud Light, Old Spice, Dick's Sporting Goods, Lowe's and State Farm.

In 2022, he teamed up with his brother, Jason, to launch their podcast, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce. Just two years later, the duo signed a three-year, $100 million deal with Amazon's Wondery podcast studio, fortunately for their bank accounts.

Top Movies & TV Shows

Kelce made his small-screen debut with a cameo in Moonbase 8 in 2020, but it was his surprise appearance on Ryan Murphy's 2024 series, Grotesquerie, that really got fans talking.

In the series, he portrays a charming nurse named Eddie. And according to Murphy, Kelce was a delight to work with. He told Deadline,  “He really was amazing. He worked with an acting coach for several months. He showed up off book. He knew everybody’s lines. He was so professional. He was so committed. He kept saying to me, ‘I’m real coachable. Coach me.’ So I did, and he ended up being a delight, and I would love to continue working with him on this and other things. I cannot say enough about him as a leader. He’s just the kindest, sweetest…everything you think about him is true.”

In addition to Grotesquerie, Kelce is currently the host of Prime Video's game show, Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, which invites contestants to answer a series of questions about things they learned in grade school. And guys, he's a natural. In my review, I noted, "Kelce's got the charm, he's the ultimate hype man and he has already nailed the art of establishing a solid connection with the contestants throughout the show. Plus, I saw no signs of nervousness and he didn't flub once. That's seriously impressive for a newbie."

The NFL star also made his debut as an executive producer on the war comedy film, My Dead Friend Zoe, which tells the story of a female veteran who encounters the presence of her best friend who died in combat. Kelce told People, "[The movie] tells a compelling story and shines a light on the challenges our veterans face. My hope is to continue working on meaningful projects like this—stories that entertain, inspire and make a real impact." 

Ventures and Businesses

Kelce isn’t just a record-breaking football player with a cool podcast and acting credits—he’s also a very successful entrepreneur. In 2019, Kelce launched Hilo Nutrition, a health brand that sells gummy supplements for “increased energy and focus," and in 2020, he founded Tru Kolors—a clothing brand that made history as the first to ever launch a collection in collaboration with an NFL franchise, the Kansas City Chiefs.

The football player signed a $57 million deal with Nike and released a collection of Nike Blazer Mid '77 Vintage styles that included six designs. Plus, he teamed up with Walmart to launch Travis Kelce's Kitchen—a line of frozen entrees that range from BBQ Baked Beans to Sliced Brisket. Kelce has also made lucrative investments in several companies, including Cholula Hot Sauce, Casa Azul, Kodiak Cakes and Indochino.