Kelce brothers after ‘ultimate bragging rights’ in Super Bowl
PHOENIX (BVM) – On Sunday, Jason and Travis Kelce will be the first brothers to face off against each other in the Super Bowl as Jason’s Eagles will take on Travis’ Chiefs. Since the matchup was set over a week ago following the Eagles’ dominant NFC Championship win over the 49ers, and the Chiefs’ dramatic AFC Championship victory over the Bengals, the brothers facing off has been one of the biggest storylines leading up to the big game.
Throughout the season, fans have been able to enjoy the humor and insight of the Kelce Brothers on their podcast, “New Heights.” However, on Monday at Super Bowl Opening Night, they got to hear what the big game, and brothers’ tight relationship, means to each other.
Check out the best sounds from #SBOpeningNight! pic.twitter.com/fkDM8pG8UT
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 7, 2023
“I wouldn’t be here without my brother,” Travis said. “His competitiveness, his leadership, there’s no way I’d be here without him.”
“I know it sounds crazy, but I think we’re both still rooting for each other,” Jason said. “I feel like you can’t help but do that. I may not be rooting for the Chiefs, but I’m always rooting for Trav.”
While this will be the first time the brothers face off in the Super Bowl, their teams have battled in the regular season in the past, with Travis owning the bragging rights as the Chiefs have beaten the Eagles in each matchup they’ve had since the two have been in the league, with those wins coming in 2013, 2017 and 2021. Each brother also has a Super Bowl ring already, with Jason winning Super Bowl LII, and Travis winning Super Bowl LIV two years later. That means this one is for the most rings in the family, and the head-to-head matchup only creates higher stakes.
“Eventually, somebody’s going to have the ultimate bragging rights revolved around this,” Jason said. “He’s already got enough, though. He’s got more Pro Bowls, he’s going into the Hall of Fame as a first-ballot, arguably the best tight end of all time. He’s better looking, he’s better at dancing. Give me one thing Trav, let me have more Super Bowls.”
Perhaps one of the most special moments of Super Bowl week for Travis and Jason is being able to share the limelight with their entire family, including their mom, Donna. On Monday night, Donna surprised the brothers by bringing them cookies on stage at Super Bowl Opening Night, and was able to express how proud she is of her sons to NFL Network’s Michael Irvin.
Donna Kelce really brought her sons Jason and Travis cookies to Super Bowl Opening Night 🥹pic.twitter.com/UOMWfqLl7B
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 7, 2023
“It’s just amazing that they’ve been able to both get to this point in their careers, and to both enjoy this Super Bowl together, it’s just amazing,” Donna said.
For both brothers, having their mom involved throughout Super Bowl week has been special.
“She’s an absolute superstar, and I just appreciate everybody kind of jumping on the train and letting her have as much fun as she’s been having, because it’s been cool to see her in that light,” Travis said.
“It’s a dream come true. It’s just cool for my family to be able to have this much fun, enjoying this with everybody … It’s not going to be fun for one of us at the end of the day, but it’s definitely a fun ride right now.”
Kelce, Kelce, and Kelce 🙌
📺: #SBOpeningNight on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/CaQcUszG3U
— NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2023
Of course, being brothers, the 35-year-old Jason and 33-year-old Travis didn’t go without exchanging a little brotherly love. Talking about Jason winning childhood fights or who would win in a karaoke battle among other things, the Eagles’ lineman also expressed who their mom might be partial to.
“Mom probably likes Travis more,” Jason said. “She keeps trying to hedge her bet and say she likes me now because I have kids, and that’s a good way I’ve kind of leveled the playing field with Trav. But the baby always gets the love from mom.”
With the craziness that Super Bowl Opening Night can bring now over, each player will begin focusing on Sunday’s game. Travis had yet another incredible season as he led the Chiefs to a 14-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC, catching 110 passes for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns, continuing to cement his place as the greatest tight end the NFL has seen. In the Chiefs’ two postseason games thus far, the tight end has made 21 receptions for 176 yards and three touchdowns.
WHO ELSE BUT KELCE 🤷 pic.twitter.com/jBWOXrZuFR
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 21, 2023
Meanwhile, Jason has continued to be at the forefront of one of the NFL’s most dominant rushing attacks and most lethal offenses overall. The center had another Pro Bowl and first-team All Pro season in 2022, as he was part of an Eagles squad that went 14-3 and earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Philadelphia has steamrolled their first two playoff opponents, beating the Giants by 31 and the Niners by 24.
You know it's coming#SFvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/P0Fi8BpqJj
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 29, 2023
“We’re a great team, we’ve gotten here because of the talent we have, the coaching we have,” Jason said.
Simply put, the Chiefs and Eagles have looked like the two best teams in the NFL all year, and now will do battle on Sunday for the ultimate prize. However, for the Kelce brothers, this game will always mean a little bit more.
“It’s an incredible moment for me and our family, but whoever wins this one is going to have the ultimate bragging rights,” Jason said. “We’re always rooting for each other, I always want him to do well, but I would sure love to get this one over his head.”
