Jason and Travis Kelce Ask for Help After Eagles Legend Lobbied NFL

In 2009, during a frigid November home game at Nippert Stadium, a furry figure in red and black sprinted down the Cincinnati sidelines, leapt into the student section, and body-surfed across a sea of roaring fans. That wasn’t a player—it was the Bearcat mascot. But ask anyone who wore the pads back then, and they’ll tell you: that Bearcat had as much game-day swagger as the Kelce brothers themselves. Fast forward to 2025, and that same sideline legend is up for the ultimate honor: induction into the Mascot Hall of Fame. Naturally, Cincinnati’s most famous football family is rallying the troops.

On the latest episode of their New Heights podcast (May 21), Travis Kelce brought the news front and center. “We’ve been asked to give a huge shout out to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats,” he told listeners. “Our Hall of Fame Bearcat mascot is up for induction into the Mascot Hall of Fame Class of 2025.” Jason Kelce, momentarily stunned, joked about not even knowing the Mascot Hall existed—but that didn’t stop the pair from issuing a full-on rally cry. “Everybody go to mascothalloffame.com 2025 and vote for our guy,” Travis added. “Let’s get a win for the Cats!”

Fans of the Bearcats have already rallied behind the beloved mascot, who over the years has become a true staple of UC spirit culture. In recent years, the Bearcat has launched Valentine’s Day delivery services, starred in social campaigns, and even had its own calendar released in 2023. And yes—back in 2009, the Bearcat was crowned Capital One Mascot of the Year, during the very season Jason and Travis were tearing it up on the field together.

If you’re wondering, yes—the Mascot Hall of Fame is a legit institution based in Whiting, Indiana. Founded in 2005, it honors mascots across college and professional sports who’ve made major cultural impacts.

For the Kelce brothers, this is more than nostalgia. It’s about loyalty to their roots. Jason arrived at Cincinnati in 2006, Travis joined two years later, and together they became key figures in a program that finished the decade with back-to-back Big East titles and a Sugar Bowl berth. Now, they’re using their platform to make sure the mascot that cheered them on gets the credit it deserves.

Jason Kelce lobbied for his NFL team

While Travis was busy campaigning for Bearcat, Jason Kelce took his lobbying skills to a much bigger arena—the NFL owners’ meeting in Minneapolis. According to Adam Schefter, the retired All-Pro center attended the closed-door session on behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles to defend the controversial Tush Push quarterback sneak play. CBS insider Jonathan Jones confirmed that both Jason Kelce and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie made their case in person. And it worked. The league needed 24 votes to ban the play. It only got 22.

The moment the rule survived, the Eagles‘ social team pounced. They posted a victory graphic reading “Push On,” followed by a YouTube reel of Tush Push highlights and a cheeky Jalen Hurts meme on Instagram. Even Donna Kelce, mother of Jason and Travis, joined in on the celebration.

Kelce, who once admitted he wasn’t a huge fan of the play personally, has consistently defended it on a competitive level. “If it wins games, I’m in,” he told reporters during the 2023 season. From lobbying NFL brass to voting online for a beloved mascot, the Kelce brothers have made it clear: when it comes to honoring their alma mater and their team, they show up.

So while fans may chuckle at the idea of a mascot Hall of Fame, for Jason and Travis, this week’s campaign is no joke. It’s about loyalty—to a school, a team, and a tradition that shaped them long before Super Bowl rings and podcast millions. Voting is open now at the Mascot Hall of Fame website, and if the Kelces get their way, the Bearcat will soon be immortalized in fur-covered glory.