The USC quarterback certainly has the confidence of an NFL signal-caller
One debate circling the NFL leading up to the 2024 NFL draft is whether or not USC’s Caleb Williams is a generational talent at quarterback.
Is he worth all the hoopla?
The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain joins David Haugh on Football Night in Chicago to talk about the Bears new quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph
From his perspective, he believes there’s nothing he can’t do on the football field. He even dared to say he can do as much as the best quarterback in the NFL.
“Everybody watches Patrick [Mahomes] and sees all the cool things he can do,” Williams told CBS Sports. “I always said, even in high school, that I don’t think there’s anything … obviously, it’s special, but I don’t think there’s anything that I can’t do that he’s doing out there. I think it’s really cool. Like I said, I have comparisons of a bunch of other people to have. Patrick is pretty cool.”
Williams is touted mostly for his — sorry to steal Tony Romo’s thunder — “Mahomes-y” traits on the field. The off-platform throws, the off-script playmaking, the game managing, the athleticism. It’s phenomenal stuff.
Mahomes gained notoriety in the NFL for the same things, but for doing them at a much higher level in the pro league. His diverted arm angles, his creativity and his accuracy are all traits Mahomes has that blow away the league.
How about his body? His trainer, Bobby Stroupe, posted a video of a brutal, spine-bending sack Mahomes took during the AFC Championship game. But because of the rigorous flexibility training Mahomes does, he was able to pop back up from the awkward bend.
Can Williams do that?
Probably not, but the point is reached. Williams is extremely talented and regarded the best quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft by a landslide. Even if he’s not Mahomes, anything close is more than enough. The argument, however, against Williams, comes from his subpar performance during the 2023 season.
USC losses to Utah, Oregon and Notre Dame puzzled pundits and outsiders. How could a proclaimed generational talent perform so poorly in several games? Against Notre Dame, he threw for under 200 yards and three interceptions.
Soon enough, we’ll see how the league values Williams in the 2024 NFL draft. First up to evaluate him, the Bears. Will they draft him or opt to keep Justin Fields?
The Bears can’t lose out on a Patrick Mahomes twice … can they?
Taylor Swift and her Kansas City Chiefs tight end boyfriend Travis Kelce are arguably the most popular couple in the world right now.
Unfortunately for them, however, it seems there may be trouble in paradise, as rumors are swirling that Kelce is unhappy with his relationship with Swift.
Kelce Allegedly ‘Not So Happy’ With Swift
“Travis is fine with Taylor giving him her thoughts and opinions on how to navigate such a public relationship. He really does appreciate it,” a source told Life & Style Magazine. “He’s not so happy with some of the restrictions she wants in place, though.”
“For example, Travis is fine not going to strip clubs anymore (that’s one of her hard rules), but Taylor also doesn’t want him posing for photographs with female fans, mostly to avoid inaccurate headline,” the source added. “He had to roll his eyes at that one.”
Though Kelce has learned that Swift is a master at shaping her own public image, “he has no interest in playing a calculated media game if it’s going to make him think twice about every move he makes. That’s not his style,” according to the insider.
Kelce’s Wardrobe Issues
The source went on to open up about some of the demands that Swift has placed on Kelce.
“Friends claim that Taylor has asked Travis to FaceTime her, not just text, when they’re apart,” the source continued. “She didn’t overtly say it, but she secretly wants to see where he is and who he’s with. Taylor’s a good judge of character and fears that some of his buddies are red flags.”
Another issue in the relationship has been Kelce’s wardrobe.
“Though she admits she’s no fashionista, Taylor’s splashed out $500,000 to help Travis dress better,” said the insider. “She loves that he likes to take chances with his style choices, but some of his outfits have been suspect. He’s at an all-new fame level, so stepping it up with designer duds is just part of the deal. Taylor says she’s not changing him — it’s an evolution.”
“She doesn’t want to control him — just help. He’s under a microscope now, more than ever,” the source concluded. “Taylor loves Travis and thinks these rules will help things with their romance, as well as his career, stay on the rails. They’re both committed to doing whatever it takes to make their relationship stronger.”
Earlier this month, Swift cheered Kelce on when he won his second Super Bowl. The couple is currently in Sydney, Australia, where they were seen passionately kissing on Friday after Swift’s first of three Eras tour shows in the city.
“She doesn’t want to control him — just help. He’s under a microscope now, more than ever,” the source concluded. “Taylor loves Travis and thinks these rules will help things with their romance, as well as his career, stay on the rails. They’re both committed to doing whatever it takes to make their relationship stronger.”
Earlier this month, Swift cheered Kelce on when he won his second Super Bowl. The couple is currently in Sydney, Australia, where they were seen passionately kissing on Friday after Swift’s first of three Eras tour shows in the city.
On top of that, Kelce gave Swift a “vibrant hot pink arrangement” worth $2,100, along with a Daum Eternal Crystal Rose ($3,020) gilded in 24-karat gold.
“Travis knows what she likes and is always wanting to send her lots of nice flowers,” said another insider. “Taylor can have the little rose sculpture with her all the time.”
While this could all be seen as a romantic gesture, it could also be viewed as Kelce over-compensating for alleged issues in a rocky relationship. Do you think Kelce and Swift have what it takes to make it? Let us know in the comments section.
Travis Kelce’s HOT TAKE on New Hosting Gig Confirming That He’s ‘Always Felt Comfortable With the Camera’
Travis Kelce is preparing for his new role as the host of the Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? show and recently made a statement about it. Here’s what Kelce said. “I think it was all the home videos my mom used to have with the old camcorder, the handheld joint, at the house. I just always felt comfortable with the camera on me and the lights on me. Sure enough, I love a good challenge. I get excited for a challenge,” Travis Kelce explained via People.
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Kelce will be playing the role of host in the spinoff of the Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Later, the Chiefs star said that she grew up watching and loving the game shows, and thus, he’s excited to be a part of one and follow the footsteps of renowned TV icons. According to Kelce’s statement, he is comfortable in front of the camera. This confidence could be a result of his previous work, such as Catching Kelce, a reality dating show by E! But he also has plenty of experience in hosting.
Travis Kelce hosts New Heights, a podcast with 2.3 million subscribers that the NFL star runs with his retired Eagles center brother, Jason Kelce. The podcast is one of the fastest-growing YouTube channels, and its recently calculated value is $100 million. The release date of the new show has yet to be determined. However, Travis Kelce has assured his fans that his focus will always be on winning more games on the field. “I’m every bit as motivated to get back and win another Super Bowl. That’ll always be my number one job until I retire,” he noted to Extra
I don’t think Taylor’s schedule is that bad, it’s basically just 3 weeks of touring with him being off 1 of those weeks, she’ll fly home in between, if they can’t handle that then what’s the point of all this.
Then she’s off until he’s done, she could even in theory make the Super Bowl if the Chiefs get that far despite being in Japan the night before.They are two secure midish-thirties adults with careers. They probably don’t need to be around each other all of the time, although I am sure it feels good to do so right now.
Some of the attention will die down eventually. It’s just a really nice love story in a time when there’s a lot of bad stuff in the media. I’ve seen people talk about how it almost makes them feel patriotic. You can’t get much more of a quintessential American romance than the football legend and the pop star, both with strong families, both self-made, both hotter than hell and into each other, treating each other with an almost old school sweetness in public.
It’s Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe. Its the American David and Victoria Beckham. It’s being idealized to an extreme, I’m sure. New love can be a beautiful, intoxicating thing, even for people just witnessing it.
They look happy. I hope they enjoy it and it works out. I don’t know enough about Swift to know if she is acting different than normal, but I’ve seen a different Kelce over the last few months.
The pair was captured on video walking beside each other as they made their way out of Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday night
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially spending time together!
The “Lavender Haze” singer, 33, was captured on video leaving Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday night with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, also 33, by her side.
As the two walked together other on their way out of the building, Swift smiled briefly at the camera and appeared to say “bye.” Kelce, dressed in a patterned two-piece outfit, also shot a smile and brief nod to the camera
Swift was part of the crowd cheering on the Chiefs in their matchup against the Chicago Bears Sunday. She watched the on-field action from Kelce’s suite with the athlete’s mother, Donna Kelce. The pair could be seen sitting shoulder-to-shoulder and chatting and laughing together throughout the game.
Trouble” Taylor Swift might be in danger after this incident.
Taylor Swift has been busy flying back and forth to see her boyfriend but now she is facing backlash after it was revealed her private jet flights produced 138 tons of CO2 emissions in just three months.
Swift and Travis Kelce made their first public appearance together in September when the pop superstar attended a Kansas City Chiefs game, for whom he plays tight end. Then the couple publicly confirmed their relationship in November, followed by a series of PDAs on Instagram, during date nights and Swift’s concert in Argentina on November 11.
However, in an interview with Time this month, Swift revealed that they quietly began dating in July after the football star confessed to having a crush on her star during an episode of his New Heights podcast.
As their relationship continues to develop, Swift has regularly flown between New York and Kansas City to spend time with her beau. She also made trips in between performances in South America for her ongoing Eras World Tour. In the past three months alone, the pop superstar has taken more than 12 journeys on a private jet.
Instagram account Taylor Swift’s Jets shows her whirlwind romance with Kelce has produced 138 tons of CO2 emissions in three months. The singer would need to plant more than 2,200 trees to offset the damage—and people aren’t happy.
People have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to express their displeasure with Swift.
“It would take the average person worldwide 34 years to produce this much are you serious,” one person wrote.
“Just casually pushing us towards even more catastrophic climate change disasters that will destroy Third World countries like we saw this summer but its ‘okay’ bc its yalls ‘mother,’” said another.
“Every time I hear about Taylor Swift’s CO2 emissions I become filled with rage like I wish she will forever be remembered as someone who murdered the planet,” a third person commented.
“Isn’t it crazy that regular working class people are pressured to change their lifestyles to minimize their CO2 emissions meanwhile f****** Taylor Swift alone is singlehandedly doing more harm to the climate than roughly a thousand people,” said another.
A fifth person added: “Wasn’t she on top of the list of CO2 emissions for 2022 as well? Some 8000 metric tons! There are no ethical billionaires.”
However, not everyone has come for the singer-songwriter, as some people don’t seem to care.
“Good for her. May she continue to use fossil fuels at her leisure,” one person wrote.
“This is funny. Their love for each is so f****** hot that the planet itself is warming up,” another joked.
A third added: “Climate was already bad even before Taylor Swift was born. Her emissions aren’t the only ones that contribute to CO2 emissions. There are a lot of factors due to which it happens. Go sit in a geography class before ranting s*** on here.”
This isn’t the first time that the “Karma” singer’s CO2 emissions have been in the spotlight. In 2022, Swift was named the biggest celebrity polluter of the year following a report by environmentally-oriented marketing firm Yard.
Based on their regular usage of private jets, the report compiled a list of the top greenhouse gas-emitting celebrities using publicly available data. After topping the list, Swift, who has campaigned for Democrats and spoken out about climate change, faced backlash online. A spokesperson for Swift pushed back on the report following its release.
According to the report, private jets produce the most emissions per passenger as a form of air travel. Yard assembled statistics from the Celebrity Jets Twitter account, which tracks the private jet travel of celebrities, with data going back to the start of the year and covering the number of flights taken by each celebrity, average flight time, miles and greenhouse gas emissions.
Swift came out on top, with a total of 170 flights on her private jet that added up to nearly 16 days in the air since the beginning of the year.
“Quite a large amount considering that she is not currently touring,” noted the report.
The singer’s flights lasted an average of just 80 minutes, the shortest being a 36-minute trip from Missouri to Nashville. Swift’s total flight emissions for 2022 equaled nearly 8,300 metric tons of greenhouse gases, which is 1,200 times more than the average person’s annual emissions.
However, Swift’s representative rejected the report’s conclusions.
“Taylor’s jet is loaned out regularly to other individuals,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Newsweek. “To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect.”
Jason Kelce has established himself as one of the premier centers in the NFL during his 11-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles. While his skills as a run blocker and pass protector have rightfully earned him accolades like three Pro Bowl selections, Kelce’s greatest asset may lie in his leadership abilities and communication skills. A key component of his leadership style is his mastery of using eye contact to effectively connect with and direct his teammates on the football field.
Eye contact is a powerful nonverbal communication tool that can convey a variety of meanings depending on context, intensity, and duration. Studies have shown that direct eye contact can establish trust, assert authority, and facilitate understanding between individuals. For an offensive lineman like Kelce, who must coordinate the movements of his teammates amidst the chaos of an NFL game, effective eye contact is absolutely vital. Through his gaze, Kelce is able to provide instructions, adjustments, motivation, and feedback to those around him.
### Establishing Connection and Trust
One of the primary ways Kelce utilizes eye contact is to build connection and trust with his fellow linemen before each play even begins. In the moments prior to the snap when the offense is still huddled up, Kelce will make deliberate eye contact with each of his blockers, holding their gaze for a few seconds to ensure they are focused. This direct eye contact serves to reinforce their cohesion as a unit and signals that they are all on the same page mentally.
Once the team breaks the huddle and lines up, Kelce continues his eye contact with his linemates. He will lock eyes with the guards and tackle beside him, exchanging a brief glance that says “I’ve got your back.” This helps establish trust that they will work in unison and have each other’s protection. Simultaneously, Kelce maintains eye contact with his quarterback, letting him know with a look that the protection is set and he is ready for the snap. These crucial moments of pre-snap eye contact foster a sense of understanding and solidarity among Kelce and his teammates.
During the actual play, Kelce’s eye contact remains just as important. He keeps his head on a swivel, maintaining contact with his blockers as well as the quarterback and running backs. This allows for quick nonverbal adjustments if the blocking scheme needs to change mid-play. It also reassures everyone that they are moving and reacting as one cohesive unit. The trust built through Kelce’s pre-snap eye contact carries over into the execution of each offensive snap.
### Providing Direction and Motivation
Another key function of Kelce’s eye contact is that it enables him to provide subtle directions and adjustments to his teammates without needing words. In the midst of a loud stadium environment with thousands of screaming fans, verbal communication can sometimes get muddled. But a meaningful glance from Kelce can instantly relay a new blocking assignment if the defense shifts pre-snap.
His eyes also convey motivational messages. When firing up his line before a big down, Kelce will lock eyes with each man, his own gaze intense with focus and determination. Without saying a word, his look communicates “I’ve got confidence in you – now go out there and dominate.” His teammates feed off this type of eye contact, feeling inspired and eager to perform at their best.
During plays, Kelce’s eyes remain laser focused on the task at hand. With a stern gaze, he urges his blockers to finish their assignments with grit and physicality. Simultaneously, he motivates the running backs to hit the hole with authority by meeting their eyes as they take the handoff. This silent communication from the quarterback of the offensive line pumps adrenaline into those around him.
### Reading Defenses and Adjusting
Another advantage of Kelce’s eye contact skills is his ability to quickly process defensive alignments before the snap through subtle glances. By carefully observing the stance and positioning of defenders, Kelce can identify potential weaknesses or blitz packages. He then relays adjustments to his teammates through nonverbal cues, making eye contact and slightly tilting his head or shifting his hands in a certain direction.
This communication is especially vital against complex NFL defenses that often disguise their intentions pre-snap. With a well-timed glance, Kelce can get his blockers prepared for a blitz that may be camouflaged. During plays as well, his eyes help track the movement of defensive linemen so he can immediately react with his pass protection. Kelce’s keen observational skills and mastery of eye contact allow him to effectively read defenses and make the right pre-snap and in-game adjustments.
### Building Camaraderie and Understanding
Beyond the technical on-field applications, Kelce’s eye contact also plays an important role in cultivating camaraderie and cohesion among his teammates. The brief moments of eye contact he shares with his fellow linemen in the huddle or on the sidelines build a sense of understanding and rapport.
A smile and a knowing look between Kelce and a linemate after a big block says “I’ve got your back, brother.” This type of eye contact strengthens the bond between players and creates a tight-knit dynamic for the entire offensive line unit. It fosters positive energy and communication that spills over into how they interact and play as a collective group.
Ultimately, Jason Kelce has proven himself as one of the premier leaders in the NFL due in large part to his mastery of using eye contact. His gaze establishes trust, provides direction, inspires motivation, facilitates adjustments, and builds camaraderie – all critical functions for an offensive lineman. Kelce’s eyes have become a most valuable tool in his ability to connect with and command those around him. His eye contact skills exemplify what it means to be a quarterback of an offensive line and have cemented his legacy as one of the best to ever play the position.
Kylie Kelce isn’t just a regular NFL spouse, she’s a cool one because she likes to give back.
On Saturday, April 27, Kelce, 31, teamed up with the Eagles Autism Foundation nonprofit organization for its “One Weekend One Cause” fundraiser at the Suburban Square mall in the Main Line suburbs of Philadelphia. Any shopping or dining purchases at participating retailers would be partially donated to the nonprofit. (Kylie and her husband, retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, are fervent supporters of the charity.)
“Wandering around @suburbansquare today,” Kylie wrote on her Instagram Story on Saturday. “Come shop to give back to @eaglesautism!”
In a follow-up post, Kylie revealed that she would gift one lucky fan a pair of Dandelion Jewelry’s “LOVE” earrings if they spotted her in the jewelry store.
Jason Kelce’s Wife Kylie Isn’t Your Typical NFL Spouse: What She’s Said
“First person to find me in @suburbansquare and say, ‘I love the Eagles Autism Foundation’ will get a pair of the @dandelionjewelry LOVE earrings,” she wrote.
The brand had crafted a range of Eagles-approved merch of necklaces and earrings that feature the word, “Love.” (Philly is famously known as the City of Brotherly Love and its NFL team also has a signature play called the Brotherly Shove.)
Kylie was quickly found by a lucky fan, who asked the former field hockey star for a selfie.
“Thank you @kykelce for all you do for Philly!” the social media user captioned her Instagram Story selfie. “You are an amazing role model for girls and boys.”
Kylie also met a trio of college students at another one of the mall’s stores, who shared the photo onto Instagram Stories.
Kylie has been a fan-favorite Philly celebrity ever since she started dating Jason, now 36, in 2015 after matching on Tinder. The couple wed in 2018 before welcoming three daughters together.
“Our dynamic made it so it was not that I was in a relationship with a professional athlete, it was very much that I was in a relationship with Jason, whose profession is football,” Kylie said in Jason’s eponymous 2023 Prime Video documentary. “I didn’t tell anyone who I was dating [at first].”
She continued, “The last thing I wanted to be like, ‘I think I’m falling in love with this guy’ and then having him be like, ‘Oh, I got like, six other girls waiting,’ which is like the stereotype of a football player. Now that we’ve been together as long as we have, it’s entertaining that there was any hesitation at all, just knowing him the way he is.”
Jason announced his retirement last month, which Kylie commemorated by ordering a custom wood model of the Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field arena.
Travis Kelce has opened up on how his upbringing prepared him for life in the spotlight as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.
Kelce’s profile has skyrocketed since he started dating the pop sensation, whose new album includes songs seemingly about the Kansas City Chiefs star.
So far the tight end has not let the romance affect his performances on the field. Last season, he helped the Chiefs win a second successive Super Bowl.
Kelce was recently named the new host of ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity’ and he explained how his mother Donna ensured he was ‘comfortable’ with the spotlight.
‘I think it was all the home videos my mom used to have with the old handheld camcorder,’ he told ExtraTV.
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Travis Kelce believes his upbringing prepared him for life in the spotlight with Taylor Swift
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The Kansas City Chiefs star’s relationship with Swift has seen his profile skyrocket
‘I just always felt comfortable with the camera on me and the lights on me. And sure enough, I love a good challenge – I get excited for a challenge.
‘Something I haven’t done before, or something that really makes me focus – and be or do something I haven’t done before. There’s something about that that I have a love for.’
Kelce and Swift’s relationship blossomed during the 2023 NFL season but back in 2016, the tight end took part in ‘Catching Kelce’.
The reality show saw Kelce date 50 women – one from each state. Nearly a decade on, he remains a regular on our screens in commercials – and soon on ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity’.
But the 34-year-old has ruled out starring in a Kelce version of ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’.
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‘The reality show is in my past, I don’t think I’ll ever do another,’ the younger Kelce insisted
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The Kansas City star has maintained a close relationship with his elder brother Jason
‘Oh no, the reality show is in my past, I don’t think I’ll ever do another,’ he said with a laugh.
‘I tell you what, I’m going to have to be out on that. But who knows? Maybe (brother) Jason and (his wife) Kylie – you pick up the reality life.’
Jason, the recently retired Eagles center, documented his 2022 season – when he faced Travis in the Super Bowl – for a show on Amazon Prime.
The brothers remain close, with Travis opening up on the importance of having Jason by his side ‘really all throughout my life’.
‘It started as a young kid, really understanding the value of family and what it can do for you,’ he said.
‘It just injected confidence and excitement in my life and I’ve been so fortunate, I’ve been able to just follow his footsteps through life – into the football world and who knows what happens after that.’
On Thursday, April 11, 2024, the lower hallways of the Lindner Center felt a little different. Bearcats football players went through their normal routine in position rooms, watching film, learning from missed assignments, and diving deeper into the playbook.
In the offensive line room, Coach Nic Cardwell stood at the front gesturing toward the board. He was picking on sophomore Evan Tengesdahl for a missed assignment; the normal procession for a film study. Veteran tackle John Williams, sitting at the front, turned around to look at the back of the room, toward the entrance.
All of a sudden it was as if he had seen a ghost. Center Gavin Gerhardt noticed and turned around himself. Six-time All-Pro, 7x Pro Bowler, and Super Bowl Champion Jason Kelce had passed through the doorway.
“We all slowly turned around, we went, ‘Oh my God,’” Gerhardt told Bearcat Journal. “I was speechless.”
Cardwell, knowing it was a shot in the dark, sent a text to Kelce beforehand asking him if he could talk to his players for a few minutes in the midst of his packed schedule. Kelce obliged, and shortly after entering the room joined in on the film session critiquing Tengesdahl’s technical ability and form.
Eventually, knowing the wealth of knowledge Kelce contained, Cardwell asked him to step to the front of the room and field questions from his players. Gerhardt and others were starstruck, and finding the perfect question for a guy like Jason felt like an impossible task. Fortunately, the boisterous Philip Wilder broke the silence and started the string of questions.
That last-second text turned into a 45-minute meeting. Kelce was gone for so long staffers from Wave Media and Cincinnati Athletics were searching for him around the building, trying to keep him on schedule for the night’s proceedings.
“Not halfway through it, I was like, ‘Hey guys, he probably has other engagements to get to. So only a couple more questions.’ Jason looked at me and said, ‘Listen, this is your meeting. I got nothing for another 30 minutes if you don’t mind.’ [It was] priceless. I was like, ‘You can keep going.’
“He wasn’t in a hurry and it wasn’t like one of those deals where he just checked in the box and left. It was an opportunity for him to pour into our guys.”
“I just tried to soak in as much information as I could from him and him telling stories and what he does when he gets to the line of scrimmage,”Gerhardt said. “How he identifies the safeties and the nickels… How he looks at everything, it’s a lot more complex.”
(Photo: Cincinnati Athletics)
Down the hall, Cincinnati’s tight ends were getting a similar experience with Travis Kelce. They didn’t exactly get 45 minutes, but Travis’ impact was similar to that of Jason according to Coach Josh Stepp and tight end Joe Royer.
“It was incredible,” Stepp told Bearcat Journal. “The first two minutes is just the aw factor and I was like, ‘Yeah, Travis Kelce is standing in our room.’”
“We didn’t talk much about schematics in our meeting,” Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer said. “He just talked to us about what it takes to be a successful tight end. Because as a tight end, it’s a very difficult job because you have to be able to block the Nick Bosa’s and Joey Bosa’s of the NFL. Then you have to be able to run routes on Sauce Gardner and Kyle Hamilton, like great safeties and cornerbacks.”
It wasn’t the first time the duo had been back speaking to players. Both have made occasional visits to campus and instilled players with great wisdom from their long careers. However, both have had a constant presence on the screen in each respective room, with a litany of notes taken on the technique and prowess of each sure-fire Hall-of-Famer during film sessions.
Joe Royer has a special respect for Travis Kelce because of the similarity of their games. Royer, a Cincinnati native, is known for his receiving ability and says he watches Kelce more than any other tight end.
“I think a big part of my game and what I’m best at is receiving,” Royer told Bearcat Journal. “Travis is arguably the greatest receiving tight end of all time and greatest tight end of all time, period. I think he’s better than some wide receivers in the NFL.”
Coach Stepp said each summer he and his graduate assistant coaches spend time breaking down Travis Kelce’s film, taking whatever they can and teaching it to their players.
“I think it’s his position flexibility,” Stepp said about what makes Travis Kelce special. “I mean, he’s able to get out on the perimeter and can be your lead receiver on a Sunday, catching 12 or 15 passes and having over 150 yards receiving. He can also get in the box, set the edge in the run game, and cut off the backside in the run game. He can just do so many different things.”
Coach Cardwell can look at the Kelce brothers in a unique light, however. The former walk-on center who eventually converted to tight end knows the ins and outs of each position, holding a special appreciation for each player.
However, when asked which one he is more enamored with, he didn’t have trouble taking a side.
“I would have to say Jason, and not because I’m an O-line guy, but because I first was at center when I went to Appalachian State as a walk-on,” Cardwell said.
“When you see what Travis does, I mean, there’s some God-given talent there. Obviously, when you look at Jason, there’s some God-given talent, but there’s a lot of thinking that goes into [the center position], and trying to get everybody on the same page. The center position is so much like a coach on the field.”
While his admiration of Jason is in large part the technical aspect of the center and offensive line positions, Cardwell can’t help but relate to Travis as well. However, it has nothing to do with a certain position or playing style.
During his time at Appalachian State Cardwell injured his neck badly. No doctor would clear him to play and the inevitable reality that his football career may be ever was close to setting in. He and his family decided to take a trip to Nebraska to see a doctor who helped with postural restoration. After having his neck shortened, Cardwell was cleared to play, and when it was all said and done he would be a part of three FCS Championship App State teams.
When confronted with the realization his career could possibly be over, he did everything in his power to play another day, just like Travis Kelce did at Cincinnati.
“I think for anybody, whether it’s Travis or anybody that’s having the thing that you love the most taken away from you, it causes you to put a lot of things in perspective,” Cardwell said. “So when that happened to me, it made me want it even more. It made me want to play even more.
(Photo: Cincinnati Athletics)
“I remember just wanting to go through hell with the guys next to me because I felt like I was part of the team… I learned a lot about myself in those moments, and you learn a lot about yourself whenever you get kicked off the team. You have to reevaluate [what your values are] some of the things you really want to accomplish, and how can I change myself and who I am so I can be a better teammate or a better player.”
Stepp and Cardwell continually reiterated their appreciation for the Kelce brothers’ perseverance. Both coaches feel extremely lucky to be able to preach each brother’s story to their players. Jason’s journey as a walk-on and Travis’s redemption arc are constant reminders of what Cincinnati football wants to be about.
“I tell our guys all the time, there are a lot of people in life who were set up for success, and found a way to fail, and a lot of people in life who were set up for failure and found a way to succeed,” Cardwell said. “It’s all about your mindset and what you’re willing to do to achieve your goals.”
“We talk about the tradition of excellence that UC has in the tight-end position,” Stepp said. “We talk about the standard of excellence that those guys have set and we have to live up to that every Saturday.”
Peyton Manning and Eli Manning and Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce are among some of football’s most acclaimed pairs of brothers to play in the NFL.
Peyton was initially drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998, nearly six years before little brother Eli was picked up by the San Diego Chargers. Eli was eventually traded to the New York Giants while Peyton joined the Denver Broncos in 2012, helping them clinch a Super Bowl victory. He retired in 2016.
After watching his big brother step back from the NFL, Eli continued to play for the Giants until his January 2020 retirement.
“I think I’m more newly retired than he, so I hope I can throw [a pass] better than him, but who knows?” Eli exclusively told Us Weekly in January 2022, joking about how their athletic skills changed once leaving the league. “I don’t think anyone wants to see that right now.”
The Kelce brothers have also made their names known on their respective NFL team. Jason, for his part, was drafted in 2011 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Travis joined the league two years later when he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Scroll below to meet the professional football players and their brothers who have played in the NFL:
Credit: Courtesy of Max McCaffrey/Instagram
Christian, Max and Luke McCaffrey
Ed McCaffrey, a retired Super Bowl champ, shares four sons with wife Lisa McCaffrey, who all play football. Max was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2016 one year before Christian entered the NFL Draft and was chosen to join the Carolina Panthers. The running back was eventually traded to the San Francisco 49ers and helped lead the team to a 2024 Super Bowl appearance, which they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. Luke, meanwhile, was drafted by the Washington Commanders in April 2024.
The trio’s other brother, Dylan, currently plays football at the University of North Colorado.
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Jason and Travis Kelce
While Travis and the Chiefs play in the AFC division, his big brother plays in the NFC conference. Travis and Jason became the first brothers to face off in the Super Bowl during the February 2023 championship, which the Chiefs narrowly won.
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Peyton and Eli Manning
Since the Louisiana natives retired from NFL, they launched their Manningcast recap series on ESPN2 in 2021.
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J.J., Derek and T.J. Watt
J.J., the oldest Watt brother, retired from the Arizona Cardinals in December 2022. His younger brothers Derek and T.J. play for the Los Angeles Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively.
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Aaron and Jordan Rodgers
Aaron is the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, where he’s played since 2005. His youngest brother, Jordan, followed in his NFL footsteps when he was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent in 2013. The Bachelorette alum was released that July before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad. Jordan — who has since had a public falling-out with his big brother — has since become a sports commentator.
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Dan, Chris and Rob Gronkowski
Rob, who goes by the moniker “Gronk,” played for the New England Patriots following the 2010 draft. While he initially retired in 2019, he walked back his decision one year later to join former teammate Tom Brady and the Bucs. Rob also comes from a football dynasty. Brother Dan has played for the Detroit Lions, the Broncos, the Patriots and the Cleveland Browns. Chris, for his part, was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, the Colts and the Broncos until his 2013 retirement.
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Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin
Shaquill was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2017, one year before twin Shaquem joined the team. Shaquill has since been traded to the Jaguars while Shaquem retired in 2022.
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Devin and Jason McCourty
Twins Devin and Jason both played for the Patriots after Jason was traded from the Broncos in 2018. (Jason later retired in July 2022.)
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Ryan and Matt Kalil
Ryan was a center for the Carolina Panthers before his 2019 retirement, while his younger brother — who joined him in North Carolina for the 2017 season — plays for the Texans.
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Michael and Martellus Bennett
The defensive end was drafted in 2001, nearly seven years before Martellus entered the football draft.
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Clay and Casey Matthews
The Packers star was a first-round draft pick in 2009, two years before Casey signed to the Eagles.
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Cam and Caylin and Cecil Newton
The Panthers quarterback joined the team in 2011, two years after brother Cecil was signed by the Jaguars as a free agent. Cecil eventually moved on to join the Packers. The siblings’ youngest brother, Caylin, is poised to follow in their footsteps and is currently playing ball for William & Mary’s collegiate team.
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Stefon and Trevon Diggs
Stefon is a wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills while his younger brother Trevon plays cornerback for the Cowboys.
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Joey and Nick Bosa
Joey was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016 during his first year with the Chargers. His little brother, Nick, was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers three years later.
