The Kelce brothers have come a long way.
Jason and Travis grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and went on to attend, and room together at, the University of Cincinnati.
3Brothers Travis and Jason Kelce shared an emotional embrace after Super Bowl LVII which was won by the ChiefsCredit: Getty
They both eventually made it to the NFL after Jason was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011, while Travis joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013.
Both brothers went on to win the Super Bowl for their respective teams (Travis doing so twice) across their Hall of Fame careers.
However, had it not been for Jason’s intervention during Travis’ wayward college years, the younger Kelce may never have made it to the pros.
As a result, the Chiefs tight end owes a lot to his older sibling.
As a small token of his appreciation, Travis honours Jason every time he steps out onto the field by wearing No.87 on his jersey.
Speaking ahead of last year’s Super Bowl – which saw the Chiefs beat the Eagles – Travis revealed his number 87 jersey number is a tribute to his brother.
“If there is a Kelce legacy, two brothers making it to the NFL, it all started in 1987 because this big guy [Jason] was born in 1987,” Trav said.
“I’m forever in debt to this guy for putting his name, our name, putting his honour on the line to get me another chance. When I say I owe it all to him, I do.”
3Travis revealed he wears number 87 as it was the year Jason was bornCredit: X@NFLFilms
3Travis said he wouldn’t be the person or player he was today without Jason’s help in collegeCredit: X@NFLFilms
“I love you. You’re the only reason why I wear the number 87 anyway,” he said as he handed his brother a jersey.
He added: “I never told you that, man. You started the legacy.”
On the other hand, Jason’s number 62 jersey number has significantly less sentimentality attached to it.
The Eagles center said in an interview, “The significance of No 62 is that when I made it to the National Football League (NFL) this is the number that was given to me and I am honoured to wear it. Growing up I kind of liked the No. 13 for the sports that I played,
“But I had a football coach in middle school that once said to me, ‘The player makes the number, not the other way around,’
“Since then, I’ve taken the number that was handed to me. I have an identity with 62 and I’m going to have that forever.”
The Kelces made NFL history last season by becoming the first siblings to face off in the Super Bowl – which became known as the ‘Kelce Bowl’ due to their involvement.
Travis and Patrick Mahomes got the better of Jason and the Eagles, winning 38-35 to capture their second Vince Lombardi Trophy together.
This season has been a struggle for the Eagles, who crashed out of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their Wild Card matchup on Monday night.
Following the 32-9 defeat, Jason reportedly told teammates in the locker room that he had decided to retire, calling him on a glistening 13-year NFL career.
Jason finishes as a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, and six-time first-team All-Pro selection, while being widely regarded as one of the greatest centers of all time.
"If there is a Kelce legacy, it started in 1987."
The number on @tkelce's back has always been a tribute to his trailblazing older brother 💚❤️pic.twitter.com/yZuRJSUhUl
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) January 16, 2024
