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“He Owes Everything to Jason”: Story of Travis Kelce Saved by Big Brother After Big “Drug Test” Debacle Goes Viral Amidst Kelce Bowl Fever

Published 02/09/2023, 7:56 AM EST

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Travis Kelce and his brother are making history at the Super Bowl LVII stage this Sunday. However, the love is still intact between the Kelces. In fact, Travis’ legendary run, as a tight end, in the NFL could have been just a dream, if not for Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.

Fans know the younger Kelce as a party animal. However, the recklessness knew no bounds during No 87’s high school and college days. Years before the Kansas City Chiefs drafted him in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, Kelce was in huge trouble when he failed a drug test during his freshman year.

Travis Kelce had a partying problem

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The future Hall of Famer tight end didn’t make the University of Cincinnati team after the weed-related drug test mishap. However, he was lucky to have his brother Jason playing on the same team. And Jason came through for Travis.

ALSO READ: Where Does Chiefs Star Travis Kelce Invest His $20 Million NFL Earned Money?

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When I got kicked off the team that year, it was my brother’s senior year. The entire off-season, he was begging the coaches to give me another chance. Set a list of things I had to accomplish to be able to play football again,” Travis recounted on the ‘Club Shay Shay’ podcast with Shannon Sharpe. “I’m forever thankful for that conversation. It took a lot of guts for him to go in there and put his name on the line for myself,” he added about brother Jason.

The brothers have come a long way since the scandalous episode, with each brother winning the Lombardi with their own franchises. Also, Travis and Jason host the remarkably successful ‘New Heights’ podcast together.

But that’s not the only time Jason had to come to Travis’ rescue

Once Travis shattered his freshman scholarship opportunity because of the drug test, he was always on the doubt list of head coaches. Despite recording talismanic numbers in his junior and senior years in Cincinnati, Chiefs HC Andy Reid still had his doubts before drafting him. And once again, it all came down to Jason.

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I picked up. Hey Coach Reid. How you doing? And he asked me straight to the point. Are you gonna f–k this up for me,” Travis recounted on a New Heights episode. The younger Kelce explained he won’t. However, Andy Reid needed some extra confirmation. “Hand the phone to your brother,” he had told Travis.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Tom Brady calls Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes overrated

If I draft your brother, is he gonna scr-w this up,” Reid asked Jason, whom he had previously coached in Philly. However, big brother Kelce took care of the situation. And the rest is history. And history will continue this weekend at the State Farm Arena in Phoenix. Despite all the love, Travis and Patrick Mahomes will come heavy for Jason, Jalen, and the Birds.

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Written by:

Soumyapriyo Ganguly

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Soumyapriyo Ganguly is an NFL writer at Essentially Sports. He holds a degree in Economics and Statistics from the Indian School of Business and Finance. Rivu is a sports nerd with his favorites being Soccer, American Football, Basketball, UFC, and Formula 1.
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Edited by:

Hitesh Nigam