‘That had to be coming from the opposing coach’ – Travis Kelce’s college coach drops great quote that Chiefs fans will appreciate
It’s well known that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce started his football career as a quarterback. Kelce signed with the Cincinnati Bearcats as a quarterback in 2008 under then head coach Brian Kelly. The future NFL superstar moved to tight end in 2010, after Butch Jones took over as Cincinnati’s head coach, while […]
It’s well known that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce started his football career as a quarterback.
Kelce signed with the Cincinnati Bearcats as a quarterback in 2008 under then head coach Brian Kelly.
The future NFL superstar moved to tight end in 2010, after Butch Jones took over as Cincinnati’s head coach, while he was serving a year long suspension.
Jones, who coached Kelce for three seasons at Cincinnati (including the 2010 season when Kelce was suspended), joined 96.5 The Fan’s Fescoe and Dusty on Thursday to discuss Kelce’s college career.
At one point during the interview, Jones shared a great story about how relentless Kelce was as a blocker in college, noting that opposing coaches would often warn the officials before games to watch for any extracurricular activities after the whistle.
“Everyone looks at [Kelce as] this great pass catcher and route runner, but really, Travis made his way to the National Football League because he was a relentless blocker,” said Jones. “And when you talk about somebody playing through the echo of the whistle, he defines playing through the echo of the whistle.
“Before every game his senior year — he wore No. 18 in college — the official would come up to me in our pregame meeting and say, ‘Now, Coach, you need to make sure you control No. 18, he pushes the limit of playing through the whistle’. And I would just kind of smile internally, because I know we had mentally already intimidated our opponent — because that had to be coming from the opposing coach. So Travis really set that standard and the expectation of really being a complete tight end.”
It’s no surprise that Kelce played with that kind of mentality in college — it’s exactly who he still is as a player over a decade later.
Butch Jones gets asked if he’s surprised that Travis Kelce is dating Taylor Swift
Kelce is often featured in entertainment headlines these days because of his ongoing relationship with pop music superstar Taylor Swift. The two have been dating since sometime in 2023.
Jones, who is currently the head coach at Arkansas State, was asked during his appearance on 96.5 The Fan if he’s surprised that Kelce and Swift are an item.
“You know what? It does not surprise me,” said Jones. “That’s the uniqueness that Travis Kelce brings about. He’s flamboyant. His personality speaks for itself. He can interact with anyone and everyone. He can carry on a conversation with anyone and everyone, and he has a pleasing personality. And I think that’s what makes him a great leader, is he has influence. And people really kind of gravitate towards Travis, and I think he’s learned how to control that over the years with wisdom and maturity.”
Kelce’s career and personal life might have looked very different if Jones hadn’t reinstated him to the Cincinnati football team in 2011.
Fortunately for Chiefs fans, Jones made the right call.
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