Travis Kelce has been a dominant tight end in the NFL for over a decade following a college career with the Cincinnati Bearcats. The accolades have followed, but one has been just out of his grasp. If he’s able to achieve that feat on Sunday in Super Bowl 59, he’d be the first Bearcat ever to do so.
Former Cincinnati Bearcat Travis Kelce Could Make History in Super Bowl 59
When the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Kelce in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, they knew they were getting a talented prospect — but they’d soon find out just how talented he was.
Kelce, a Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native joined his brother, Jason Kelce, when he committed to play for the in-state Bearcats. It proved to be a bumpy road in college; after his freshman season, he was kicked off the team due to a failed drug test.
He later rejoined the team in 2011. A year later, his production finally became felt on the field.
Kelce recorded 45 receptions for 722 yards and eight touchdowns in 2012, proving himself to be one of the best tight ends in the nation. He was the fifth tight end drafted in 2013 — teams quickly regretted passing on the former Bearcat.
In his rookie season with the Chiefs, he caught 67 passes for 862 yards and five touchdowns. That was only the beginning.
He recorded seven consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 2016-2022, a historic feat for a tight end. In his career, he has 1,004 receptions, 12,151 receiving yards, and 77 touchdowns — all Kansas City receiving records.
Kelce has been named an AP All-Pro in each season from 2016-2022, including four first-team selections. He’s been named to the Pro Bowl roster in every season since 2015. The regular-season accolades have come in bunches for the Chiefs’ legendary tight end — but it’s in the postseason that he makes his presence felt the most.
Of his 24 career postseason outings, he’s recorded 100 or more receiving yards in nine games. In total, he has 174 catches for 2,039 yards and 20 touchdowns in the playoffs.
Some of his best performances have come in the biggest game of them all: the Super Bowl.
In four Super Bowl games, he’s put up stat lines of 6-43-1, 10-133-0, 6-81-1, and 10-93-0. Of those four contests, the Chiefs have won three Lombardi Trophies.
Despite Kelce’s dominance in the big game, he hasn’t been able to secure the highest honor of all: Super Bowl MVP.
On Sunday, against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59, Kelce has the opportunity to do just that.
At 35 years old, the tight end has shown signs of decline during the regular season, but he still managed to record 117 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs’ AFC Divisional matchup against the Houston Texans.
KEEP READING: Travis Kelce’s Football Career Almost Didn’t Happen
If he can put up a similar type of performance, he’d put himself in a position to claim the game’s MVP award.
While a win is what matters, being honored as the MVP of the championship game would be that much sweeter for the former Bearcat — making him the first alumnus in school history to achieve the honor.
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