NFL
Jason Kelce reveals why he PUNCHED brother Travis in the face in heated fistfight and shares Chiefs star’s furious reaction
Jason Kelce opened up on a heated altercation between himself and his Kansas City Chiefs brother Travis Kelce. Jason and Travis have become two of the most famous brothers to have graced the NFL and have shown their tight-knit bond on and off the field thanks to their popular New Heights podcast. However, Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason recently revealed that the duo had their fair share of sibling rivalry during their childhood just like any set of brothers.
Before making it big in the NFL, the Kelces seemingly nurtured their competitive edge at home, which sometimes saw tensions boil over. Appearing on an episode of Shaquille O’Neal’s ‘The Big Podcast’, Jason, who announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this year, recounted a rare occasion he and his brother came to blows.
The former center said he once let his frustrations get the better of him and intentionally fouled his younger brother, who was making too many baskets for his liking during a game of basketball in their backyard – something that Travis didn’t take too kindly to. ‘We’re out in the backyard and he starts just driving and doing these stupid shots,’ Jason said. ‘He’s making it every single time and I can’t do anything to stop it. So I resort to fouling him, the only way I know how to stop it.
‘So he says “That’s bulls**t, that’s a foul.” I’m like “I don’t see any refs out here, I don’t see anyone calling it.” ‘He takes the ball, throws it at me, it goes in the house. I go in there, I grab him by the shoulder and I punch him.’ Jason did insists that it was only the second time he had landed a hit on Travis as he went on to reveal his sibling’s furious reaction.
‘Listen, we would fight every time,’ Jason said. ‘This was only the second time I’d ever punched him. I don’t know how it got that heated. Punched him in the face. Every time before that, he would cry or whatever. ‘He took this punch, scooped me up off my feet and slammed me on the kitchen floor so hard the oven got knocked off the tracks. I get up, we’re in a full-on fist fight.’
Jason Kelce talks about the time he punched Travis in the face 😳
(Episode 8) pic.twitter.com/gBuGWDtLnV
— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) August 19, 2024
Thankfully, the brothers have matured and worked through their violent altercation, showing their love for one another on multiple occasions. While Jason delivered his retirement speech in March following a glittering 13-year career with the Eagles, Travis was seen wiping his tears while sitting front row with their parents Ed and Donna.
During the speech, Jason mentioned playing football with Travis in the backyard as kids. He also recalled the emotion he felt when he got drafted into the NFL, and when Travis got drafted two years later. Jason even played a critical role in Travis’ draft, helping convince Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid to take a chance on the younger – slightly wilder – Kelce brother.
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 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. Yet, despite all the love, the brothers still can’t resist to take a dig at one another – albeit in a war of words rather than an all-out fistfight. Most recently, Jason issued a hilarious response to Patrick Mahomes’ trick pass to Travis in a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at the weekend.
Jason played an instrumental role in convincing the chiefs to take a chance on his brother
The Chiefs quarterback was bold enough to attempt a behind-the-back pass on the second drive of the 24-23 home loss on Saturday, surprising the Lions defense, as Kelce successfully made the connection on third-and-3 at the Detroit 33.
The pass was good for 9 yards and a first down, and eventually helped to set up a field goal. After seeing footage of the play, himself, Jason exclaimed on social media: ‘This son of a gun actually did it!! Magic Mahomes.’ He later added in a response to footage of Mahomes’ post-game interview: ‘If Pat starts throwing behind the back passes every time Travis runs the wrong route, this may be the most exciting year of football to date.’