Travis Kelce is an American football tight end who has played his whole NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion, the co-host of the hit New Heights podcast, and, since July 2026, the husband of Taylor Swift. He turns 37 today, October 5, 2026, and he’s still catching passes in his 14th season.
| Date of Birth | October 5, 1989 |
|---|---|
| Age | 37 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Occupation | NFL tight end (Kansas City Chiefs); also actor, podcast host, and entrepreneur |
| Spouse | Taylor Swift (married July 3, 2026) |
| Brother | Jason Kelce (former Philadelphia Eagles center) |
| Alma Mater | University of Cincinnati |
| Drafted | 2013 NFL Draft, 3rd round, 63rd overall, Kansas City Chiefs |
| Career NFL Earnings | Approximately $111 million |
| Championships | 3x Super Bowl champion (LIV, LVII, LVIII) |
| Real Estate | $6 million mansion in Leawood, Kansas (17,000 sq ft, purchased late 2023) |
GroovyTravis Kelce Biography
Travis Michael Kelce was born on October 5, 1989, in Westlake, Ohio, and grew up in Cleveland Heights. His parents are Ed Kelce, a former steel salesman, and Donna Kelce, a retired banker who became famous herself as “Mama Kelce.” He grew up as the younger brother of Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center.
The two boys played almost every sport going. Travis starred at Cleveland Heights High School in football, basketball and baseball, and he played quarterback for the school team. That Cleveland Heights childhood still matters to the brothers, who named their podcast New Heights after it.
He then joined Jason at the University of Cincinnati. His college career hit a bump in 2010, when he was suspended for a year after failing a drug test for marijuana. He came back, switched to tight end for good, and had a big senior season in 2012 that put him on NFL radars.
Career
The Kansas City Chiefs picked Kelce in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 63rd overall. A knee injury wiped out most of his rookie year, but he became a starter in 2014 and never looked back. He went on to post seven straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2016 to 2022, a record for a tight end.
His peak lined up with the arrival of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Together they won Super Bowl LIV, Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII, the last one a 25-22 overtime win over San Francisco in February 2024. Kelce also holds the record for most career Super Bowl catches with 35, two more than Jerry Rice.
The last two seasons were tougher. Kansas City lost Super Bowl LIX to the Eagles in February 2025, and the 2025 season ended at 6-11 with no playoff spot. Mahomes tore his ACL in December 2025. Kelce still led the team with 76 catches, 851 yards and five touchdowns, and he made his 11th straight Pro Bowl.
Return for the 2026 Season
Many people expected Kelce to retire after that losing season. Instead, he signed a one-year deal worth $12 million, with up to $15 million in incentives, to play a 14th year for Kansas City. Reports said he turned down bigger offers from other teams to stay with Mahomes and coach Andy Reid.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show in March 2026, Kelce said the retirement talk was “pretty short and brief” this time. “I’m still in love with this game,” he said. He also said watching his then-fiancée keep working motivated him to say, “I’m not done either.”
The 2026 season has started well. In mid-September he passed Jason Witten for second place on the all-time receiving yards list for tight ends, and only Tony Gonzalez is ahead of him now. By the end of September he had more than 13,200 career receiving yards, and the Chiefs had opened the year 4-0.
Podcast, TV and Film
New Heights started in 2022 as a weekly chat between the two brothers. It grew into one of the biggest sports podcasts in the world, and in 2024 they signed a deal with Amazon’s Wondery reported to be worth more than $100 million over three years. Taylor Swift’s appearance in August 2025, when she announced her album The Life of a Showgirl, drew a record live audience on YouTube.
The show is still going strong. It came back for a new season on September 2, 2026, and the brothers plan a free New Heights tailgate at Arrowhead Stadium on October 18. On a late September episode, Travis gave his verdict on Swift’s new song “Cleveland!”, which is all about him and his hometown.
Kelce has also built a screen career. He made his acting debut in Ryan Murphy’s FX horror series Grotesquerie in 2024, hosted Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? on Prime Video, and played a role in Adam Sandler’s Netflix film Happy Gilmore 2 in 2025.
Personal Life
Travis Kelce is married to pop star Taylor Swift. Their story started in July 2023, when he went to her Eras Tour show at Arrowhead Stadium hoping to hand her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it. He didn’t get to meet her, but he talked about it on New Heights, and the two were soon dating.
Swift first showed up at a Chiefs game in September 2023, and the romance quickly became the most watched in sports. The couple announced their engagement on August 26, 2025, with an Instagram post that read, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” He had proposed a couple of weeks earlier in a flower-filled garden near Kansas City.
They married on July 3, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, in front of about 1,000 guests. Adam Sandler led the ceremony, Jason Kelce was best man, and Swift’s brother Austin was man of honor. At a Chiefs training camp press conference aired by TODAY in August, Kelce called the wedding “the best night of my life” and “a night full of celebration.”
Before Swift, Kelce looked for love on his own E! dating show, Catching Kelce, in 2016. Maya Benberry won the show, but they split soon after. His longest relationship before Swift was with media personality Kayla Nicole, on and off from 2017 to 2022. He doesn’t have children yet.
Travis Kelce Net Worth
Travis Kelce’s net worth is estimated at about $90 million, based on his NFL salary, endorsements, the New Heights deal and his business stakes. Football alone has paid him well over $100 million since 2013. His two-year, $34.25 million extension in 2024 made him the highest-paid tight end at the time, and his 2026 deal adds $12 million more.
Endorsements are now a huge part of his income. He has done ads for State Farm, Pfizer, Nike, McDonald’s and many other brands, and his fame grew fast once he started dating Swift. His share of the New Heights deal with Wondery adds tens of millions more over its three years.
He also puts money into businesses. He co-owns Garage Beer with Jason, holds a stake in the Alpine Formula One team alongside Mahomes, and opened the 1587 Prime steakhouse in Kansas City with his quarterback. He also bought into theme park company Six Flags in 2025. His home base is a mansion in Leawood, Kansas, which he bought for about $6 million in 2023. For comparison, his wife is far richer, and you can read how Taylor Swift built her fortune here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Travis Kelce?
Travis Kelce was born on October 5, 1989, so he turns 37 on October 5, 2026.
Is Travis Kelce retiring?
Not yet. He signed a one-year deal to play the 2026 season, his 14th with the Chiefs. He hasn’t said whether it will be his last.
When did Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift get married?
They married on July 3, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Adam Sandler officiated.
How many Super Bowls has Travis Kelce won?
He has won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs: LIV, LVII and LVIII. He also played in losses in Super Bowl LV and Super Bowl LIX.
What is Travis Kelce’s net worth?
His net worth is estimated at about $90 million, from his NFL contracts, endorsements, the New Heights podcast and business investments.
Does Travis Kelce have kids?
No. Travis Kelce does not have any children as of October 2026.
