Before Monday night’s Super Bowl LVII rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, ESPN will run a feature called “Coaching Kelce” done by Michelle Beisner-Buck.
The Chiefs and Travis Kelce defeated the Eagles and Jason Kelce 38-35 last Feb. 12 with their mother Donna Kelce wearing a split jersey featuring both teams’ colors.
Both Kelce’s were University of Cincinnati football players with Jason Kelce going from a walk-on linebacker to center for Mark Dantonio, Brian Kelly and Butch Jones. His younger brother Travis came from Cleveland Heights as a quarterback but was eventually switched to tight end by Kelly and flourished under Jones.
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Jason Kelce was a Bearcat between 2006-2010, with Travis Kelce playing between 2008-2012. The Enquirer spoke to their coaches last winter prior to the Super Bowl.
In Monday’s interview, their high school coach Michael Smith speaks along with former UC coaches Kelly and Jones.
Here are some excerpts from a preview copy provided to The Enquirer:
“They were opposites,” Kelly said.
Kelly said Jason Kelce trained hard and was honest. He recalled a UC game at Oregon State where he thought Kelly was throwing too much.
“He told me in so many words, ‘Run the damn ball!’ ” Kelly said. “I ran the ball.”
As for Travis Kelce, Kelly calls him “infectious” and “galvanizing” but refers to Jason as one you’d want leading your team.
Current Arkansas State coach Butch Jones
“Even though they’re brothers, two distinct personalities,” Jones said of the Kelces.
Jones said Jason Kelce was very serious while Travis Kelce had a big personality.
“If you’re going to the party, he’s (Travis) probably the first you’re going to ask to go with you,” Jones said.
As for his competitiveness, Jones recalls a team three-point contest among the footballers that Travis Kelce won. As he also relayed to The Enquirer last February, Jones had retired military men train and assess his team where they declared the younger Kelce the leader. Jones remembered looking at the trainers in shock but recalled the assessment being correct.
“Jason was an intense guy in practice, he wanted to get the job done, take care of business and make sure everyone’s on point.”
Future Hall of Famers
Both Kelces will likely be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, a little over an hour from Cleveland Heights. They’ve been Super Bowl champions and the best at their positions. One was a finalist for People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” and the other dates Taylor Swift.
“Nothing surprises me when it comes to Trav or when it comes to Jason,” Jones said.
When?
The feature airs on Monday Night Countdown ahead of the Eagles and Chiefs game Monday night which is an 8:15 p.m. kickoff on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Brian Kelly, Butch Jones dish on UC football’s Kelce brothers Monday
