When you talk about Cleveland, Ohio, you have to talk about the Kelce family. The Kelce brothers, Jason and Travis, have made their state proud by having 16 Pro Bowl appearances and 4 Super Bowl titles amongst themselves. Even some NFL teams don’t have that set of accolades. To be able to raise so much brawn and brains in a single household should be impossible. But their parents, Donna and Ed Kelce, have proved otherwise.

Who knew the chance encounter between Donna and Ed and their eventual love story would give birth to one of the greatest sibling duos in NFL history? Let’s take a dip into the life of the (former) power couple.

Who are Travis Kelce’s parents?

Donna and Ed Kelce are Travis Kelce’s parents. They are total legends in their own right. They come from different worlds but were 100% about raising their boys right. They made sure Travis and Jason grew up with that grind mentality, always showing up with hard work and dedication—which, as we know, got them both into the NFL.

Donna grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and was the first in her family to graduate from college. She has a degree in radio and television and an MBA. She spent thirty years in banking, working for Mastercard, and later focused on commercial real estate finance. Ed came from a military family and served in the Coast Guard before an injury led him to a career in the steel industry as a sales representative. 

Both poured their energy into raising their sons in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Ed and Donna divorced after nearly twenty-five years of marriage, but they have maintained a supportive co-parenting relationship. Today, Donna lives in Orlando and has appeared in Hallmark films. Ed remains active in his community, supports charitable initiatives, and stays involved in his sons’ lives. Together, they have left a lasting mark on their sons’ careers.

How did Ed Kelce and Donna Kelce meet?

Ed and Donna Kelce first met in the late 1970s in Cleveland, Ohio, at a bar called Fagan’s. Donna was actually on her way to meet someone else for a date, but decided to stop by the bar first. That’s when Ed walked up to her and asked, “Did you say Joe?” Donna explained that she had not, and Ed introduced himself as Ed. 

From that moment, they started talking and ended up chatting for hours. Donna later admitted that she missed her original date completely and even skipped a play she had planned to attend that night because she was so caught up in the conversation.

Their connection grew quickly, and they married not long after. Over the years, they had two sons, Jason, born in 1987, and Travis two years later. Although their marriage eventually ended in divorce after nearly twenty-five years, Ed and Donna remained close and committed to co-parenting their sons. Both Jason and Travis would later go on to successful careers in the NFL, something they credit their parents’ support for.

Donna has spoken openly about the challenges they faced in their marriage. She has said they stayed together for the sake of their children, providing stability even when their personal relationship was strained.

Know more about Travis Kelce’s mother’s divorce.

What ethnicity are Travis Kelce’s parents?

Travis Kelce comes from a family with a rich and diverse heritage. While the specific details of Ed’s ethnic background are not publicly documented, it is believed to be of European descent, reflecting the broader mix common in the United States.

Donna Kelce’s maternal grandparents, George Stajduhar and Mary Jurkovich, immigrated from Croatia. So, that gives Travis and his brother Jason Croatian roots. Beyond this, the Kelce family has a mix of English, Scottish, Polish, and Czech ancestry.

What happened between Travis Kelce’s parents?

Travis Kelce’s family life has always been in the spotlight, especially after his rise to NFL stardom. His parents, Ed Kelce and Donna Kelce, were married for nearly 25 years and raised Travis and his older brother Jason in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. However, their relationship wasn’t always easy. Donna later revealed that the marriage had its struggles, but both she and Ed made the conscious decision to stay together until their sons were grown. They wanted Jason and Travis to experience a stable home life and not deal with the turmoil of separation during their formative years.

Donna has opened up about how hard it was emotionally, saying she “stood still for several years until I could move on on my own,” implying that she delayed making the split in order to support the family and avoid disrupting their lives during childhood and adolescence.

The split, while difficult, was handled with maturity and mutual respect. Even today, Ed and Donna remain supportive of each other, especially when it comes to cheering on their sons. Travis Kelce’s parents’ divorce highlights how they prioritized family above all, ensuring their children’s success came first.

Travis Kelce’s relationship with his parents

Travis Kelce shares a close and affectionate bond with both of his parents, Ed and Donna Kelce, despite their divorce. One of the most heartwarming examples came in January 2022, when his mom surprised him at a playoff press conference by asking about his first-ever NFL touchdown pass. Travis lit up and admitted it was a dream he had told his mom about since childhood.

Another unforgettable moment was during Super Bowl LVII, famously dubbed the “Kelce Bowl,” where Travis embraced his mom on the field after the Chiefs’ victory and praised her for being “the heavyweight champ” for supporting both him and his brother Jason.

His relationship with his father is just as meaningful—on Father’s Day 2024, Travis shared a touching montage of their memories together, calling Ed his “big guy.” Even childhood anecdotes, which his parents fondly dubbed “Travis Moments,” reveal their closeness and how their encouragement shaped him into the man he is today.

Together, these moments highlight that despite challenges, Travis’s bond with Ed and Donna remains one of love and pride. For Travis, no matter how big the stage gets, the cheers that matter most will always come from Mom and Dad.