Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce revealed he convinced Andy Reid to move past concerns the Kansas City Chiefs head coach had over his brother Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs drafted Travis in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft after Reid joined Kansas City following 14 seasons with the Eagles.
However, while the pick has paid off in the form of two Super Bowl wins and one of the greatest tight ends in the NFL, Travis, who has reached new levels of fame amid his relationship with Taylor Swift, was initially seen as a risk for Reid.
The coach was convinced of his on-field ability but Travis’s season-long suspension from the University of Cincinnati team for multiple positive marijuana tests was a sticking point.
But Travis’s big brother Jason, who was also drafted by Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles, played an instrumental role in convincing the veteran coach to take a chance on his brother.
Eagles star Jason Kelce (left) revealed he helped brother Travis (right) get drafted by the Chiefs
Kansas City head coach phoned the Eagles center shortly before the 2013 NFL Draft
The center said Reid called him shortly before the draft to ask if he could take a shot on the younger Kelce.
‘I felt like he was asking me in the moment, ‘You realize I’m taking this shot on him. I want to make sure this works out,” Jason told ESPN.
‘Kind of like [Reid was saying], ‘You’re part of this working out,’ so if it doesn’t work out, he’s holding me responsible.
‘We had a great relationship in Philadelphia even though it was only for two years. He knew me and trusted me as a player. My brother’s film from college I think spoke for itself. I think they knew the type of player they were getting. Because of the inside scoop I guess with me, they were able to kind of get over some of the concerns with him.’
Reid previously discussed his process behind draft the brothers on their New Heights podcast at the end of last season and also opened up on the phone call with Jason.
Travis’s season-long suspension from the University of Cincinnati team for multiple positive marijuana tests was a reportedly sticking point for the veteran NFL coach
He admitted that his first impression with Travis wasn’t the best with the tight end striking him as ‘cocky’.
He said: ‘This guy I saw play against Temple and my son kept telling me, ‘This tight end is unbelievable. Kelce’s brother is, like, incredible. I mean, he’s 265 pounds, he’s a beast.’ Then I get him and he’s like 240, but that’s okay.
‘I’m going to bring back a memory for you. The game’s over, they just destroyed Temple, I come over to the locker room and (Travis) comes bee-bopping out and just giving me the business like we’re long-lost friends. And deep down, I’m going, ‘If I get my hands on that son of a buck, I’m going to rip his heart out.’ But I played along with it. Cocky, cocky, damn, he was cocky. But listen, I knew the roots.’
Travis has made headlines this season after stepping out with girlfriend Taylor Swift, the pop star attending his games, his number of endorsement deals and hosting NFL.
Travis has made headlines this season after stepping out with pop star girlfriend Taylor Swift
But his social life was an issue when he first arrived in Kansas City with the tight end admitting that he only became professional towards football thanks to Reid’s constant one-on-one meetings with him.
‘One of the hardest things for me was to juggle enjoying my life off the field and still being a professional and ready and at the top of my game week in and week out,’ Kelce said. ‘A lot of that was Coach Reid sitting me down, talking with me and guiding me through all of it. I was testing it with him.
‘I was late to meetings, hanging out too much throughout the week, not necessarily focusing and showing to my coaches that I was giving everything I could. I learned you can show your personality and have fun but you have to be accountable to the guy next to you and be able to handle the highs and the lows of the game.
‘Now, football is the only place in my life where I’m really detailed, really professional. When I’m thinking about football, I’m dialed in. I can lock in, really compartmentalize. That’s because of Coach Reid.’