Travis Kelce and his brother Jason have been all over the news during the 2023 season, but it's their parents (especially their mom Donna) that are the real stars of the family.
By the time they retire, the two Kelce brothers could very easily be on their way to the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. They're easily one of the best sibling duos in NFL history, alongside names including Peyton and Eli Manning and the Watt brothers (J.J., T.J. and Derek).
The Kelce brothers made history at Super Bowl LVII when the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles meet in Glendale, Arizona. They were the first brothers to face off in a Super Bowl. After finding out they'd be playing each other, Eagles center Jason said he had a Chiefs sweatshirt he'd have to stop wearing, while Chiefs tight end Travis stated the obvious:
"My mom can't lose."
"My mom can't lose."
Donna, you are a Super Bowl champion! ? @jasonkelce @tkelce (via @JeffKerrCBS) pic.twitter.com/QdScSoePvV
— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2023
Travis and Jason's parents, Donna and Ed Kelce, not only raised a pair of future Hall of Famers but also have been supporting them each step of the way.
Jason and Travis Kelce's Parents Donna and Ed
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
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Donna Kelce and Ed Kelce aren't former pro athletes or anything like one might expect. Donna worked in banking before proudly retiring, while Ed is a sales representative in the steel industry. Jason and Travis were both raised in Ohio, where they attended Cleveland Heights High School. They also played on the University of Cincinnati Bearcats at the same time from 2008-10, though Travis can always say he was drafted higher.
Donna and Ed have had to be strategic supporting their sons at times. During last season's wild card games, Donna watched Jason and the Eagles in Tampa Bay for an afternoon game and flew to Kansas City to watch Travis and the Chiefs play the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From Tampa Bay to Kansas City ??
Donna Kelce made it to see both of her sons' playoff games today ??
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/HSA2d8WzfU
— ESPN (@espn) January 17, 2022
But during this year's divisional round Jan. 21, Donna and Ed were forced to make a playoff game decision. The Chiefs were playing the Jacksonville Jaguars the same day the Eagles were playing the New York Giants. They settled on watching the Chiefs-Jaguars game and spending the following weekend watching the Eagles beat the San Francisco 49ers to advance to the "Kelce Bowl."
But Donna being the supportive momma, she is wore a custom jersey with both of her sons' numbers and showed it off on social media.
Made it to KC @heartinPhillyat8:15 pic.twitter.com/zFY4ub4GCt
— Donna Kelce (@dkelce1) January 21, 2023
"I decided, 'Alright, I'm gonna go to the Chiefs-Jags game, because that's never happened before, and then go to the championship for Jason,'" Donna said, via Sports Illustrated. "I knew I was gonna go to one for each."
Maybe she had a feeling the Eagles were going to blow out the Giants, which they did easily. The family all then watched Travis, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs beat the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game.
Ed told News 5 Cleveland his plan was to root for the offense at all times during the Super Bowl, since Travis plays tight end and Jason is a center. He brought two jerseys to wear at different times of the game, one a double-sided Bearcats jersey with both numbers and another from their high school.
"One of my kids is going to get another ring, and one's going to go home broken hearted that he didn't beat his brother," he joked with News 5 Cleveland.
The Kelce parents have already seen both sons win Super Bowls, with three combined between Travis and Jason. They were in the stands when Jason's Eagles pulled out a win in Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots, and they celebrated when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV over the San Francisco 49ers a couple years later, along with the most recent Super Bowl between the two siblings.
Donna Kelce and Taylor Swift
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Despite Donna Kelce already being a star thanks to her children, the mother to two future Hall of Fame players got an even bigger boost during the 2023 season due to her budding friendship with Travis' girlfriend, Taylor Swift.
Kelce and Swift began dating during the 2023 season, and the pop superstar has been spotted during multiple games with the Chiefs star's mom. Donna seems to approve of her son's new girlfriend, with the famous mom being spotted listening to some of Swift's music.
Donna and Swift will likely get plenty of camera time during the 2023 playoffs.
