Donna Kelce Believes Football Will Still Be Part Of Her Sons' Lives After Retirement
Lots of football fans are eager for the latest news about when Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce plan to retire, but their mom, Donna Kelce, isn't fretting about them calling it quits on their football careers.
Donna, 71, states in a People interview:
can’t believe that they wouldn’t be in the future involved with football in some capacity because they love it so much.
She opens up about her thoughts on what the future might hold for her sons once they retire from professional football. This comes amidst rumors suggesting that Jason might have played his last game following the Philadelphia Eagles' exit from the playoffs in January 2024.
She adds:
They love the people and they love the coaches. They just love the whole aspect about it.
Jason, aged 36, and Travis, aged 34, began their football journey back in high school, where they shared the field as teammates. Being in one time continued through their time at the University of Cincinnati.
Jason ventured into the NFL draft first, landing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011. Two years later, Travis followed suit, signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Both excelling in their respective positions, Jason (as a center) and Travis (as a tight end) made history as the first siblings to compete against each other in the Super Bowl in February 2023.
In the end, Travis' team emerged victorious over Jason's.
The two made their comeback to the NFL for the 2023-2024 season, with the Chiefs and Eagles making the playoffs in early January 2024.
Unfortunately, the Eagles were knocked out in the NFC Wild Card round. Following Jason's team's defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reports surfaced suggesting that the center was contemplating retirement.
Earlier this month, the speculations began when he became emotional following this loss. The seasoned athlete was seen shedding tears on the sidelines after the game.
Jason was also spotted conversing with his father and his 31-year-old wife in the stands before becoming emotional during a discussion with his offensive line coach, Jeff Soutland, on the field. The defeat eliminated the Eagles from contention for Super Bowl LVIII.
Jason and Travis’ dad, Ed Kelce, tells listeners during a radio show appearance:
I’ll know he’s retiring when he starts to lose weight.He adds:
These guys are very health-conscious. As soon as they decide to retire from the game, they shed a ton of weight. Once that happens, you’re not coming back.Meanwhile, Travis is currently not considering stepping back from professional football. His father quips that he'll play 'until the wheels fall off.'
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesDonna shared how her sons spent their football hiatus.
Here's what she said in an exclusive interview:
They are on the move 24/7, whether it’s football or whether it’s something else like other competitions [and their ‘New Heights’ podcast keeps them] very, very busy.In 2022, Jason and Travis started a sports podcast named after their hometown, Cleveland Heights, where they discuss NFL topics weekly. Donna, Ed, and Jason’s wife, Kylie Kelce, have all made notable appearances on the podcast, some of which have gone viral.
Interestingly, Travis famously disclosed his crush on his now-girlfriend, Taylor Swift, during an episode of "New Heights" in July 2023.
