Travis Kelce | Ep 55 | ALL THE SMOKE Gridiron | SHOWTIME

not number one. I think it's between him and uh Kiddle out in San Francisco. Man, But welcome Travis Kelsey to the show. Super Bowl Champ. Yeah, he has a Super Bowl Champ, So you gotta give him the title right now. Man. You know it always makes it make it sound like I did something in life and you put that tank, you put you put that title on the end now, but you definitely put in work. So

tell us what present day life is. You know, wherever the world saw the NBA bubble, this success, uh, the NFL obviously chose not to go with the bubble, and there's been some canceled games, there's been some played games. Guys have caught it. Guys have got over it. Um. Adam Silvers had a while back the commission the NBA. We're just gonna have to learn how to live with this, and it kind of seems like that's what the NFL

is doing, just you know, learning on the fly. Yeah. Well, first of all, I just want to say I appreciate you guys having me on. Man. I'm a big fan of the show. A lot of the conversations you have man have been inspiring as well as you know what I mean, informative man. And yeah, to to talk about the NFL and what's going on with life right now. Man, it's just to to work into the house. That's really my entire, my entire routine right there. I just go

to the facility and come back home. I'm fortunate that I got a lot of people, um to help me out around the city, um, around the around the house, to make sure that I'm you know what I mean,

I'm I got an unbelievable chef. Uh. That's going to the grocery store and making sure that you know what I mean, I'm getting my nutrition and stuff like that, and uh, everybody's just being accountable and that's what exactly what you were saying about the commission, um, mentioning that it's you know, we're gonna kind of have to live with this for a little bit, um and try and make things work. And uh, I'm just I'm just proud of the NFL. I think right now it's been a

very successful season. I mean, of course there's been the hiccups, um, but we all knew that was gonna happen. Man. It's just uh, everybody being accountable and what they're doing. And it's not just you know, in in the house and in the in the facility. Uh, one mistake could could screw up everybody's a chance to you know, earn their paychecks in the NFL this year. So everybody just just gotta keep maintaining what we're doing. Man. What's the hardest

part about all this if there is one? Obviously, you know you worked to the house and normally that's low key how it is during the season. But what's kind of been the hardest part about this process so far now that it has to be so strict. Yeah, I think the biggest thing is, um is balancing out the time with the family, the time with the friends. Uh, making sure you're still maintaining somewhat some distance, uh, knowing that anybody could could have this virus and not show it.

Um And and you know, even though we are getting test sometimes it takes longer for for somebody to show up on the test, you know. And there's there's so many different variables to to you know, the equation of what is COVID and how how to be you know, quarantined and stay safe out here. There's so many different variables that you have to hold into accountant. It's just what it's doing is it's kind of making me be stand offish with the family and the friends, and it's

that's the worst thing. That's the worst thing that that I could I could do because I'm such a family guy, I'm such a friend. I want all my friends around. I ended up grabbing a suite at Arrowhead because I wanted that environment after the game, being able to celebrate and hang out with the family and friends. Um And you know what, it's just, it's it's not that right now this year. And it's definitely a different field going

to and from the stadium. Absolutely well, someone who has you know, been around African American culture pretty much your whole life, uh swag. Some people might say you have some black in you because the way you care yourself and push your push your h you know, with the injustices going on, with the shootings. We just saw shooting the other day in Philly with a mentally ill man and his mom begging the cops not to do it, and they shot him right in front of her. What

do you think about the current climate of America right now? Honestly, I try and think very positive about things and and with with all the unfortunate things that are going on in the world and in this country specifically, with you know, the injustice injustices, the certain events that have have led to deaths, I just think it's, um, it's extremely you know, it's extremely unfortunate. But what it's doing is it's it's

it's bringing the problem to life to everybody. And you have your you're being force fitted and and and that's kind of I hate to say, but that's kind of how um, white America is gonna have to have to handle this. It's just, you know, because it's such an uncomfortable situation for a lot of people that just don't understand and um, you're just gonna have to open your ears, open your hearts and listen to what's really been going on that that you know, a lot of people have

just you know, let happen. And from me, it's it's it's calling out the bs. It's seeing wrong and calling wrong what it is and uh and letting that be known. And I'm sure enough. I think the world is a beautiful place man. There's a lot of hearts out here, and I think it's uh, it's going to continue to get better and better because you know, I'm I'm a big supporter and a big believer in UM and and people want to do the right things and uh and

and what's right is right, man. I think at the end of the day, what's happening now is you It's like you said the same thing with how NFL players are doing with the COVID being held accountable. I think we're holding everybody accountable now. Anybody that stands on the side of hate. You can't hide behind closed doors no more. You know, you got you, you got you got people allowing those types of people that have hate to come out and stand the front line. And we see their

faces now. But they understand too that there's more people that stand on the side of love and were pushing these people with hate out. And that's what I love about. Everybody's being held accountable and people from all races that's on the side of love. They understand that now is the time to stand together in all the plus to live in a better place. I'm with you, man, holding everybody accountable at all costs, and and that's something that I think it's been unbelievable in the NFL is that, um,

you know, it's becoming a huge discussion. I believe every single team had at least three days during training camp where we took two to three hours at the end of our day to really sit down and talk about these matters, talk about what it means, uh to be an African American or a minority in America and the and the views uh that that can be that can be subject to them. And it's just, um, it's it's

a beautiful thing because it's creating the conversation. Uh. It can be uncomfortable at times, but you know, this isn't a comfortable world. You know, some of the best things that I've ever gone through in life, you know, words, some of the roughest times of my life. Um and and I and I'm and I'm thankful for those opportunities to come across my life and and turn me into a better person. And I think that's what's going on right now in America for sure. Well, a lot of

people don't see this too. We we talk about the African American problems, which is a big part of it. But when I've been going to these neighborhoods, trap and I've been going to to to give back and help the people that need it's all races. It's also it's a lot of it's all races, a lot of people from all races that are struggling in these areas that need help and need people to know that they care about them and we hear them and we need to

be their voice. So people need to understand that side too. Yes, it's a big problem with them killing black people, but at the same time, when you go to these areas that that where where where they need and we're giving back, it's every race that needs well. I think I think what's important to too is I mean, growth is uncomfortable, you know what I mean. Anytime we're trying to elevate and get to the next level, whether it be in life, sports, business,

it's gonna be uncomfortable. And I think both of you guys made great point is right now, at the end of the day, it's not even about black, white, brown, It's about everyone versus hate unity, you know, because all all races have hate, and hate comes in every shape, form and color, and that's what we have to band against, you know what I mean. So the one positive, you know, there's been several positive things, but you know, watching Jack out in the streets and and kind of watching stuff

and see and stuff and being involved. The one positive that one of the main positives I took from as that you see every color of the rainbow out there, you know, and like you and like you said, Travis, it's something that has to be forced fat You know, I don't know if things would be as effective, and this would have reared his naked head if if we weren't in this pandemic. You know, we've been forced to

set our asses down. Watch the news. You see it across social media, talking amongst you, Yeah, you're talking amongst your teammates, you know. I mean, it's a real reality check. That's a real look in the mirror, UM being being you know, being being a white star athlete with the platform. What are some of the stuff you're trying to do? Tell us about that. Yeah, no, I think it's UM it's a part of I don't want to say it's a part of the job. It's just a part of

life standing up for the right things. UM, calling out, calling out the b s when you see it. I just I've always I've always had the mentality as the mentality my father gave me as a kid. In the community that I grew up in. UM, it's so multicultural, and so it has so many different social classes, and it was a beautiful um family of a community of different and ethnicities and social classes. And UM, I just I feel like if if, if the world had a

little bit of what I grew up in. UM. You know, an experience that you could take from one of my best friends mother being from India and and and his father being being an American black man, Irish and black uh of Irish and Black descent. It's just it's such

a cool unique that's just one of my friends. I Mean, it just goes, it goes on, and UM, it's so unique of a place that just gives you a broad mentality on appreciating someone else for who they are and their culture, UM and and and the and how beautiful you can be prideful of where you are and appreciate someone else's UM and what and what I just try and push in on my platform and and and and around the Kansas City area is uh, you know, it's it's all it all comes from power, right Yet I

hate to say this, but systemic racism UM the world that that lives inside UM politics. I think the initiative to voting and it's not necessar fairly the main guy that the president. It's not necessarily that. It's the little things that you can do in your community. UM, the small initiatives that you can vote for in your community that can really change not only your life with the people around you, life that you know might need that

helping hand. UM. You know, it's just a Voting is such an under underappreciated as as I was growing up through my through high school and college, I just think it was very underappreciated. And now it's starting to really become a must and and a job for everybody to get out and vote for the right things normally. Uh, the NBA has kind of taking the league with social

justice reform players using their platform and speaking out. But I'm we're obviously starting to see it a lot more now from the NFL, which I think is a huge step because you know, the owners for the most part of stand on pretty much the exact opposite side of players on a lot of different things, and they've kind of kept you guys from expressing yourself. But it seems like, you know, obviously now but maybe in the last year who you guys are really starting to find your voice

in your footing. What do you what do you contribute that to? It's the guys that paved the way, that that stand up that um that you know what I mean. They want to see change, you know, and then it's unselfish changes. It's knowing that um yeah, it's it's not necessarily affecting me as it is more so affecting the whole of the NFL. And I think, uh, one of the initiatives of the new cb A that we just grabbed was, um, some of the some of the guys that are you know, the big name guys are are

gonna get paid. You know that whether it's guarantees or not. As a different story, but um, we wanted to really make sure that there were more secure ways for guys to make money and keep money in the NFL, even if it's just like you're you're a special team's guy, or you're a practice squad guy, you're somebody lower on

the chart doesn't have that big time contract yet. Um, we were we really wanted to make sure that everybody had the same benefits and uh, and that those guys were getting a better opportunity to make more money, um than what they were getting in I think that's one thing that we definitely got done with the new c b A and it just keeps going up from here. Um is a tenure c b A and hopefully in ten years will be in discussion with it with an even better opportunity than then we came into it with.

And uh, you know that's how that's how things just you know, keep going up as as long as as long as people care about you know, not necessarily themselves, but the future. Yeah, the NBA is the The NBA has been real good at this, especially with the social judge side. They really let the players take over and really speak their minds if if the NFL can or anyway, what can they learn from the NBA. I take away

from how the NBA handles things well. I think one of the things the NBA does the best of is, uh they push their players in the right way. Uh. They shine light on the players in the in the in the right way. And I think that's something that the NFL has definitely taken note of, um and given and given you know, more players the opportunity to get out from under the mask and into into somebody's living room.

Um and in the right light, in the right light, though not necessarily you know, is done right in the n B A. I mean, it's very it's it's friendly, it's loving, and it's very it's very meaningful, and it's powerful. Uh and and and you know what, it's it's almost like the NBA is is preaching family to everybody in America. And um and I think that's such a beautiful thing to be a part of that organization. Um and and and it's been the model. It's been the model of consistency.

And that's why culture is driven by so much in basketball because of the way the NBA and the players in the NBA have been able to touch the hearts of America. Have you Have you seen, obviously, with Cap taking a knee in two thousand and sixteen. I think obviously if you didn't understand or didn't get it back then, you understand the two thousands of twenty why he took

the knee. What has kind of been the energy in the shift in your opinion, because obviously you were in the league in sixteen and the knee was met met with mixed reactions, it was hijacked by the president. It made out to be a bad thing. But you just mentioned earlier in the interview, Um, you know, earlier in training camp, you guys were taking two or three hours a day, a couple of days a week to kind of talk about being black in America, being a minority

in American. I'm sure that didn't happen back then. So what kind of energy have you seen change in the past four years when it comes and stuff like this. I think what what happened back then was so new that uh, well I wouldn't say so new, for for the fact for the fact that he was kneeling was new. And and you people can go NonStop about whether the anthem was something or not people were they were getting in to the minds of America to try and switch

the narrative. And uh and and it's as clear as day that that was never the issue was the anthem. It was always the fact that it was a black man kneeling for the anthem um and that that that white America wasn't appreciating that. And um, I think I think now it's very well known why he was doing it, and that there and that it's being attacked and um, and the NFL sees that and they're trying to do

something about it. And um. You know, a foot forward is is all you can ask for the opportunity to change the minds, um of those that that you know, need to need a better understanding what's going on. You know, that's all you can ask for. Absolutely. Travis Kelsey super Bowl champ. What does that mean to you, man? Uh,

It's it's it's just prideful. It means, you know, I've I've done something with my life with the guidance that I've gotten with in my life, with all the people that have supported me through my life, I've gotten somewhere that they can be proud of that I can be proud of. Um, I'm so uh, I'm so prideful and where I come from and the people that have helped me along the way. UM, I know I didn't do this alone. And to have a title like that, um with it with the guys that I did it with.

Um Man, it means the world. And all it does is it makes you want to go and get another one and keep reaching success like that, I think it's safe to say that not only did your quarterback take the league by storm and took the world by storm? What is it? What has it been like working with him and developing the chemistry you guys have to make you one of the top duels in the league. Now,

Oh man, it's uh one has been fun. Man. As soon as he walked in the locker room, Uh, you could tell that he had you know, he had the charisma, He had the the ability to to relate to everybody. UM. He's not a shy dude. But at the same time, he's very UM, he's very open with who he is. You know, he's not gonna he's not gonna shy away from anybody or or or keep to himself. You know what I mean? He's here for the moment and he's here to have fun. And but at the same time

is professional. Listen took over when once once we were out there on the field and in the classroom or in the work or in the in the offices and stuff. Um, and from that point on, man, you knew it was it was gonna be. Uh, we were gonna have some fun. But at the same time, the way he slings it, man, I'm gonna have to figure out exactly what's what he's thinking. So so this entire time, I've just been, you know, trying to get to know him on the field so that I can be in the right places at the

right time. And uh, and that's basically my job is to paint a picture for him for the quarterback. And as much as and as much is as much chemistry as I can build with that guy, I'm trying to get into his mind so that I can make his job easier, which in in the grand scheme of things, and make the game easier for our team. Ye'all done that fast, and we've had a lot of fun. That's why. That's why. Yeah, I mean it holds true in basketball.

You know, one of the closest teams I was on was with the team with Jack in two thousand seven. With that we believe team, and we were a team that kicked it on and off the court. Obviously, with circumstances different now with COVID, do you get a chance to really hang with someone like him or some of your other receiving mates to to really kind of get that off the field vibe as well? I wish. I

wish it was that easy. Man. We've we've had some times when we just hung out, um, you know, especially before this season a little bit during training camp and stuff like that. But because of the because of COVID in the situation, the NFL has actually clamped down on on us being able to hang around each other because if one guy gets it a you know what I mean, they don't want a lot of us around each other

for a long period of time. So they actually told us that we couldn't hang outside of the building with three or more UH teammates. So it's like they're really putting us in a little mini bubble in our own cities. But uh, I mean, we're making it work. It is what it is. Um. What you gotta do is you gotta enjoy, you know, on road trips, you gotta enjoy the plane rides, stuff like that, the bus rides to and from the game, the evenings that you have, you know,

in the hotel before the game. You know you're trying, you know, catch catch a game, or enjoy a few conversations at dinner, you know, things like that to keep the mood light, you know, because whenever you're at work, it's it's all work. You're you're focused on the task at hand. You're focused on trying to get the game plan right, and things like that. Um, it can it can get you know, a little bit too routine in

the building. So making sure that you know, you keep it lighting and have some fun throughout it all, knowing that most of the guys are just going to the facility and back home every single day. What's it like being the hunted? Now? Obviously Super Bowl champs. You had a tough loss in two thousand eighteen to the Patriots in the n f C Championship. Come back and beat my motherfucking niners. I said, I funk with you, but it hurt my heart that you took it from my names.

What what's it like from going from the hunted like night. Yeah, not to give a Yeah, that's what it is. It was that was a battle man. That was my team. And you know, you guys did your thing. You know you guys, haven't. You guys had a knack for coming back. That's your guys, m O. And you guys did that

and you handle business. But what is what is it like now being the team that has a target on your back every single night knowing that, hey, ship, this team is only one one or two games in the division, but they know they're playing us. You know, I got a chance to play on a Warrior team that was like that. No matter who we played every night, we got their best effort. What is it like now having

to carry that target on your back? Um? To be honest, I don't I don't feel too much of the pressure of of living up to being a super Bowl champion. Like in that respect, I feel like, if anything, the Super Bowl just gave us confidence that Yeah, this is us, this is who we are, this is what we do. Um. I thought the loss to the way we lost to New England, everybody knew we were we were gonna be

a good football team. Everybody knew that they had to bring their a game to beat US, um, because we were one play away from being in the Super Bowl. And UM, I think you know, as as as the season goes on, UM, you get more focused on on the little things and you try and you know, perfect the weaknesses and and and and strengthen everything that you're doing positively in the game. And it's just, uh, it's

a NonStop battle to better yourself. So you just have to have that mentality and know that you know, this is this is this is what we do. Is I go out here and I play football and uh and I played to with with these guys next to me too, to a level that you know, I feel like we have the advantage and and and that's just the mentality that you have to have going into a games. Have been adding le beyond bell on to the phone. Oh man, it's a I don't know how our GM keeps pulling

a rabbit out the hat just making stuff happen. Man, But uh, left Bell is and unbelievable since he's been in the building. Man, you want to talk about being kind of stuck in the routine of things, And I'm not saying it's still early in the year. And everything, But you can get caught up in just coming into working and seeing the same faces when he came in,

and it's just a different jolta energy. He came in ready to work, ready to ready to figure out this offense so that he can make an impact right away because he's excited to be in a winning football or or at least a program that you know what I mean, can explore the right winning said it right, winning football, I mean that ship. You gotta think he's extra fresh too, you know, with an injury injury plague season and then

not really playing that much. To me, he probably has something something to prove to himself and to everyone else. Like you know, don't forget that I was the best running back in this league before I went to before I went to the Jets, you know what I mean. So you know you said it absolutely right. I think that kind of you know, that's like going to the Spurs, are going to the Warriors, are going to the Lakers.

When you you know, when you have a chance to go from the from the gutter to the penthouse, you want to raise your focus, the level of your game everything you possibly can, because you know, you want to be a small part of something great, and I think it's a unique opportunity for him to be who he is. And like you said, come to a team like your guys. That ship is crazy, man. It's just just up to

Andy Man. Just take it to a hunother level. And uh, I was talking about his energy, and you can see in the first walk through how he's jumping around and he's got almost what looks like fresh legs. I don't know how much he was running over there in New York, but it looks like he's got fresh legs. Like he like he's a young dude all over again and just ready to get after it. And I mean that kind

of energy is infectious, you know what I mean. When you see a guy with high energy, man, you want to play to that level and you want to meet that level. And because because um it is what it is. When you when you're playing one of the best teams in the National Football League and you see that they're ready, you see that energy pregame, you see them coming off the ball early in the game, you know it's gonna

be a dog fight. And a lot of guys get a little uncomfortable in that dog fight when they see that other teams don't bring it and and and it's the top dog with it. So it's just it's a mentality to just bring it every single day and have that have that grit, have that dog, and you uh to go get it. Man. I think as an athlete is no better feeling than knowing you got guys and how many of your teammates you have that taking this serious.

You know you you got you got you, You got guys that come out here and ready to do the job. Everybody on the same page. Everybody have the same goal to win. And when you get on the team like that when I went to the Spurs, the feeling up winning, the feeling up, the feeling up, everybody taking their role serious and all having the same common goal to win a championship. That is contagious, bro, And I know he feels that walking in that locker room. M hmm. It's

like you said, it's contagious, man, It's contagious. And when and when you when it really means something to you, that's when you can take it to the new level. And it means something to him right now. You can see in the way he works. Yea. So Westlake boy, Westlake Ohio A three parts three excuse me, A three sports star in high school football, baseball, basketball. I played

everything is well going through high school. When did you decide to or did you play everything up until your senior year when you had to start trying to pick what you're gonna do next? Oh? Yeah, So first, so I got a funny story about Westlake, Ohio. I'm from Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Uh. When I took, I took going into the NFL so serious that I thought when it. When I was filling out the form for the NFL dot com stuff, I thought that I had to put where I was, like the hospital I was born in.

So I put Westland Hospital. I thought it. Well, I thought they wanted the government government. So that's how that's how silly I am. But I um, I'm from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and they just put Westlake up there. So when they shout out to west Lake and everybody, but I'm from the east out of Cleveland. Uh. To ask you a question, though, man, I still, I still I wish I could find my way down to an NBA team for a quick fifteen days ten days. Yeah, I love hoops. I'm actually wearing

the old school. I don't know if you guys were part of the old school Gatorade, hoop it up back in the day, back in the day, that was that was life right there. UM. But for me growing up, growing up, I played every single sport, uh you could think of. Man, I was going from hockey practice to basketball practice when I was in like fourth fifth grade. UM, I was playing baseball just about year around, hockey year around,

soccer year round. Um. And and when it got to high school, that's when I really had to, you know, narrow it down. And UM, I wasn't sure exactly what I was gonna do. I knew I knew my school was was more tailored to a basketball school, as we had one state uh in nineties seven, um and had a good track record that guys going to college for free, UH playing playing hoops. And you know that was something

I knew. You know, my grades weren't the best, My effort in the classroom wasn't the best, So I knew I had to, you know, sale somewhere else if I wanted to go to college for free. So it was, um it was definitely a basketball football were the main two in high school. UM and UH I. I just I had more offers, uh and and and it just felt more comfortable for me to stick with football. Even though I did go to Cincinnati to play both football

and basketball, Um, I never saw the court. I practiced a few times and got and got in a few summer games. But outside of that, man you, um, you only saw me cheering for the hoop squad. But I think it was it was. It was an easy transition because I initially went to college for to play quarterback. So I went to University of Sinnaight to play QB.

And my first my first year of red shirted. Second year, our coach Bryan Kelly, who's that Notre Dame now had a package for me, um that to be the Wildcat, And man I did when I tell you, he came up with this the week before our first game, all training camp, two days nothing. I'm just trying to work on my three step with my three step game, right like I'm a rookie, like I'm a freshman, fresh meeting

in the pocket. And sure enough he puts this this package together and wants me to straight run the ball. And the game came around. We went up I think like two scores and the third time into the red zone. He threw me in there, and I'm I'm in my mind, I'm like, he's not even gonna call this, and he throws me in there, and I remember being so scared. My brother is actually playing left guard at this point, which is which is ironic because he's he's lead blocking

for me. So I'm catching the snap. I'm catching the snap, reading the defenders, and I'm like, in my mind, I'm I'm not even I'm handing this thing off the first time. I'm just letting a round. I'm like, hey, I'm in this thing. I'm a freshman in this uh, in this college football game like I always dreamed of. And man, it just didn't feel like I was ready for the moment um. And then once I got my feet wet for one play, man, I was ready. I was like, all right, I can do this. I can do this.

I I see how everything kind of just slowed down a little bit, and uh, and that's when I really, uh, I really felt that I could take the game, um and turning into something you know that I could I could do for the rest of my life. Um, Because everything once once it all slowed down and I could get into the zone. UM, I had the confidence to be able to just play instinctually. UM, and I made the I made the transition into into into the tight

end room. UM naturally so so because I was doing the wildcast stuff, the coach wanted me to kind of be on the field so that we can when you sell players in and out in football, the official actually waits. Uh, the offense can't snap the ball until the defense. You give the defense time to switch their personnel. So if you keep a certain personnel on the field, Um, they

have to keep their personnel on the field. So it's just it's one of those things where he wanted me on the field so they could stay in a certain personnel so that I could run the ball as well. But Uh, doing that meant that I had to play a little bit of tight end. And the success I found with tight end, man, it just it it took off in college. And uh, you know, I've just been so grateful that I got the opportunity at such a young age, or I didn't wait till later in my

college career to make the transition. Um, it was just it was something that that, UM, I really found a love for the game when I when I moved to tight end. How big were you at the time when you were playing the wildcat quarterback coming out of high school? I was a big dude. Now, I told you I read shirted. Man, it was once you I feel like once you read shirt as as in college, man, it just turned into the party central man. I wasn't I wasn't taking the workouts too seriously and it ended up

hurting me a little bit going into training camp. I wasn't ready for it, and going into training camp next year, but I was still about six five to fifty to fifty five. I've always been I've always been a pretty big quarterback. I went into my freshman year of college at about two thirty five. Okay, So I was always a little bit on the hilthy side to make that decision. I mean, you know, quarterbacks as probably the most privative position on the football field, and then going to tight end.

You know you're not You're not the star as they would say on the football field. But how did how long did it take you to make the decision to go to tight end? Like was it just instant soon as you had success? Well, I was always I was always kind of in between the two. Um. You know, I love the physical, ay is the tight end position, uh,

the football position. That's why I like running the ball so much at quarterback, or I like I loved running the ball so much a quarterback was because I could lower my shoulder on somebody and get an extra few yards. And when I when I had I turned that mentality into being a tight end one, I realized, I gotta hit the weight room. My body can't be taking all these hits like this, and I gotta be able to be stronger up top. Uh. And then the legs to be able to block these d ns that are two

d seventy eighty pounds. Um. So it was a complete change of mentality um to sitting up in a pocket. But I still had that physical that physicality that I grew up with playing hockey and lacrosse, and the being the little brother, um. Being able to take a hit, blindside, take a hit, um, things like that. The traits were easy to transition. And then you take the the ability to you know, play on the court, be able to go up and grab me, be able to grab alley

you and take it off somebody's head. Things like that. That the athletic ability. UM, that transferred from the court over and then the ability to track a baseball, the ability to go deep in and run down, run down the sidelines, and track a ball flying in the air. UM, all these all these different sports helped mold me into um the tight end that I am today and the

success that I have today. UM. If you if you watch a lot of my routes, it looks like I might have a rock in my hand, like I'm crossing over. I didn't have that on the court. The handles. The handles were suspect on the court. But it looks like when I'm moving sometimes I'm using the in and out crossover, you know, things that kind of get somebody to step one way. Because in football it's a game of inches.

All I need is this much separation because when I'm reaching for a football, I only need about five to six inches to a foot for myself to get my hands on it before you do. And then once it's in my grip, uh, it's mine. So it's it's having that mentality of you know, being being being the boss on the field, but at the same time, haven't having you know, a slick way of running your route to manipulated, munipa manipulating way to to to you know, get the

defense to think I'm doing something else. Man. Uh, that's that's the game that I play. I think you made an amazing point, and I hope that are you know, the dads are listening and the kids are listening to this, actually parents overall that you said every sport you played made you the player you are today, And I felt the exact same way. You know, I was all American football, played baseball, obviously all American basketball, but I took every I took the toughness from the NFL. That's why you

know I was playing football. I felt like I was a football player playing basketball. Like I've never shied away from the physicality or anything things like that, but I really feel like I took you know, the hand I of baseball, the physicality of football, and allowed me to play fifteen years in the NBA. And I think too often now kids are parents are vicariously living through their kids, and it's one sport year round, making it a job at such a young age, you know. So I think

it's great and I try out of preseat. Man, I think all the sports hone you in and you'll find what sport is yours eventually. But all those other sports you play alone in the way are gonna help you develop into hopefully you know that that the professional athlete you aspire to be. I'm right there with you, man.

Playing every single sport definitely helps you out. UM, and then having the mentality of you know, I'm I'm a big believer, and there's a lot of professional athletes that could have chose another sport have been been just as successful, if not even more successful. Having the grit and the mentality of getting better at something and finding that routine. I think I think at a young age, I never

really understood how to how to create a routine of success. Um. I didn't understand going to practice what these jump shots really meant. I didn't understand what these dribbling um skills that dribbling the skills and in and out of cones and stuff like that, what all these fundamentals were gonna mean on an instinctual decision on the court. I didn't

understand all of that at a young age. UM. But it really took off for me when I moved to the tight end room, because I was like, all right, how do do I how do I play this position? Let me look at some of the greats. Let me look at some stuff on online on on on what people are saying, you know what I mean, are teaching these tight ends at a young age the fundamentals, the

basic fundamentals. And once I started to really get into those fundamentals and and finding that routine is success, everything took off for me. My love for the game took off because I was having so much success with it. And and I think that's something, Um, if you have a knack for for being on being competitive and being on the athletic field, court, rank, whatever it is, um,

find that routine of success. Uh and and and even if it's something that you're doing just the minimal, you know, finding that routine and just walking home with the basketball in your hands, holding the football to your chest when you're walking through the hallways. Little stuff like that creates

instinct world features that have it. It creates, It creates these little instinctual things that just hold onto the hold onto the ball a little bit tighter, being able to oh when it hits a crack, being able to grab the ball with your intrinsic muscles in your hands, just things like at that you naturally just you don't think um will make you that much better, but over the course of time, uh, it makes you that much greater.

What the constant improvement, you know, from being a third round pick, constant study improvement every year to being the prototypical hybrid type tight end. You know, you're you're too big for dbs, you're too fast for linebackers. You're the new age of you know of tight end. What does that mean to you? Considering you went like I said, you know, arguably the best in the game because of the other ship that you know hones you growing up

to become a tight end. Yeah, I um, Well, the first thing is, you know, I think I think a lot of people try and build the stereotype of a tight end like, oh, he's big, he could run a little bit of routes, but he doesn't have the whole route tree. And in my mind, I was watching the wide receivers run routes and I'm like, I can run that route, just give me the opportunity to run it. And that's the biggest thing is a tight end is

getting that opportunity. And I have so much appreciation for what coach Andy Reid is done in terms of my success and giving and trusting me with uh winning these one on one matchups, being open for the quarterback, having the full route tree in a game plan to to make the defense second guests and have to play a

reactionary position. All of that goes into account to what who I am as a professional and without a coach being able to put me in these situations, um, I'm not the same player and I the biggest thing is I've taken mentally, um my game to a whole another level by not letting myself get boxed into what a stereotype player would be. You know, I think NonStop. You always have to you have to keep trying find to

find a way to get better. And that's why I watched everybody in the league, everybody, all the tight ends. Whenever I turn on the film, I'm watching it, and whether it's the third tight end over in you know, Atlanta, or the starting tight end in San France, I'm watching to see what they they're doing to have success and how I can implement that into my game, uh knowing, you know, especially if it if it's something that's dominating seeing that you're you know, you, you study your opponents.

Obviously study your peers from your position coming into this space, considering you are a hybrid, do you did you watch more receivers or did you watch more tight ends that you looked up to and kind of passenger game or was it a mix of both? Initially? Initially I watched the tight ends and that was just creature, I having creature of the position. Um. I was watching Tony Gonzalez.

Once I got to the league and I really had access to the film all over the league, I started watching Tony Gonzalez during his prime years here in Kansas City. I started watching a lot of Shannon Sharp. Uh. At the time, Rob Gronkowski was taking the league by storm, So I was watching a lot of him. Um and what he was doing. Uh, Jimmy Graham had a unique ability to to get open in the red zone and and and play the game. Yeah, exactly play the game

at a high level. Uh, knowing that he just transitioned into the position. Um. So I was looking at all these guys. And then on top of that, when you watched the film, uh, you can't help it to see

where the ball goes. So so throughout film, I started watching you know, just everything, watching guys run routes uh, doing doing doing wide receiver routes inside uh and and from that point on, I mean just go going up to the players, the quarterbacks and the coaches and saying, hey, why don't we throw a little uh slant and go

out here? Why don't we throw a little corner and go why don't we you know, work this this route inside just one time and see see how that looks um, letting him know I feel comfortable with running these routes and getting open for you. And um, I think, uh a lot of like I already said, a lot of my success goes to to coach Andy Reid. But being on the same page as everybody in this offense is definitely something that has has made me a better player.

So toughest matchup, toughest matchup, man, Um, I mean that's Super Bowl was pretty intense. Man. The Niners. Man, there's no joke that that defense that they had last year. The hell yeah, you're just saying that because you're appointed, not a fan, man, get off the gap. But but but but he even though our four was nice as fun, yeah, I mean that and just the overall scheme. Man, the defensive coordinator is one of the best in the league. He he teaches it very well and makes sure that

it's it's everybody's sound. Like the biggest thing about the outside whether to know much about football, is that everybody on the football field is playing defense has a gap in the run game. So the gap between the center and the guard a d tackle might have, or a linebacker might have, you know what I mean. And for a defense to be sound, everybody has to be able to fill a gap and be able to, you know,

make their tackle if called upon. And I think what what San Francisco does unbelievable job of is in terms of zone coverages and rushing the quarterback and making sure that their run game, their their defensive run game is on point. I mean, he everybody seems to be on the same page over there. And that's why it's so hard to put up points on them, um, because they take away the deep the deep threat, and they do very well. They're very good job of underneath uh kind

of matching up to everybody. So it's just that defense was was very underrated, if it wasn't already, if it wasn't you know, praised is one of the best in the league. And um, I think that was definitely our toughest matchup. But you can never look past uh, you can never look past Baltimore. Baltimore has got a great defense.

Uh uh. And if you don't get if you don't get on top of them early, UM, it's gonna be a long day because Lamar is gonna be able to just take his time downfield and and create great or create huge plays. Um. Who else you know what I'm looking right now with the bucks Man. The bucks are playing great football with the veteran football team. Uh, great coaches, and it's and it's all new. It's all new, a lot of it is. Uh. It's hard to scheme up

new things. That's why you see a lot of immediate success out of out of out of some players because it's so brand new. You don't really know their tendencies and things like that. Um. But as they play longer down or longer in their career and longer down the season, they start to get schemed up a little bit. Yeah, they moved higher up that they moved higher up to Scott and report exactly. Yeah. Yeah, transitioning you Uh, you did a show for you know, our Network showtime. Uh,

moon Base eight, How did that come about? Man? Honestly, I don't I don't even know how it came about. I think they needed a football player, somebody with uh a tougher mentality. Uh in the in the kind of like the moon Base eight of the characters that they were they were putting together, um, and my name came across the board and sure enough that picked it. I don't know how the heck I got picked. I didn't really do too many I didn't do any um audition for it or anything like that. I just kind of

showed up. And here I am sitting there looking at Dale from Stepbrothers right right now, eyes listen. I was I was like a little kid in a candy store. Man. I just I was admiring. It was like the real life show. And and John c Riley is he is livable, bro, he is so funny, unbelievable, dude. He's awesome. Guy. All three of the other characters, um and all three of the guy the main leadson in that show or I mean, they were just they were awesome. They were helping me

out with everything. Uh. Knowing that I was a rookie in the game, I had no idea what I was really doing. Um, but I had a whole lot of fun listening to those guys and watching those guys be professionals. Man. So you're also on featured on ease show Catching with Kelsey. If you ever need a wingman on the show like that, I'll let me because I'll definitely come through and uh, you know, be that support. Um with that is there

is not looking ahead. Obviously you love what you do, but you know, we're more in the era now of you know, life after sports, and more than ever, athletes are in other things as they're dominating their one particular sport is in front of the camera, behind the camera, and interest of you for your post career without a doubt, I'm keeping all the windows open right now. Are all the doors open right now? Uh? Kind of venturing into a few different areas. The fashion world is one of them.

I have a clothing brain, True Colors, just a lifestyle brand right now that I'm trying to build. Uh. We've got some fun releases coming up soon. But I think whether it's fashion, uh talking sports in general, um, I can't. I can see myself talking to football for the rest of my life. But I kind of want to venture into all sports knowing that I have a love for all competition man, everything from golf to tennis to you know, hoops,

you name it, man, I'm in it. Man. I loved I love to be around the sports sporting atmosphere and uh and talk and shoot shoot the stuff with everybody. Man. Being such a high profile UM athlete now in this day to social media, do you find it tough trying to keep up with it? Balance it, block out the negativity, benefit from the positivity, and just social media as a whole. We know you popping on G two, you got you gotta make sure you you're you're pushing the right material

and the right contact. It's just it's just UM. One. I think it's enjoying the people UM that you share UH similarities with, so jumping on shows like this where I can relate to guys, you know, appreciate all your guys, both your guys opinions on things UM, and then pushing

the right content and UM. I think what people don't really understand about about athletes and UH people with following is that there's there's once you get to a certain following, UH, the comments just start going they take, they take, they take their own road into into whatever leads. You know, you could post a picture about uh football, and out

of nowhere here comes somebody talking about your relationship. So mental health, mental mental health is something that is very real, um to two people with the following, And it's because you know, you want to you want to care about what somebody is saying about you. It's just it's in my It's in nature that I you know, I want to be loved by everybody that ship. I'm a fun loving guy. It is who it is, what it is um. On the on the field, I could care less about

who I'm going against. That's the mentality I have on the on the field. But as a person, I want everybody to appreciate, you know, who I am because I represent a lot of people from back home that would that that are prideful of that. You know, we're in the era now where I was actually just talking on ESPN earlier today about Michael Jordan's saying he doesn't think he can handle this social media era if he was

playing you know what I mean. And I think social media has been the greatest gift and the greatest curse and the reason why it's the greatest curse is just because there's so much negativity and jealousy and anger and bitterness, and like you said, people think because we're athletes that the ship people say doesn't get to us or doesn't affect us or doesn't bother us, and it and it's furtherest from the truth. I mean, obviously we have to

block it out and do a job. But at the same time, you've got people talking to about your kids, talking about your girl, your ex girl, something you did. I'm like, god, damn, like okay, or or another thing, like would you really say that to my face? Like if someone's gonna talk big ship on Instagram? Everyone thinks that Mike Tyson on Instagram like to me, just don't say nothing you wouldn't say to my face. Like I respect that you say to my face. I might do something,

but just don't. Just don't say ship that you wouldn't normally say. And I think that's unfortunately a society that we live in. Or as great as you are, you guys are Super Bowl champs, there are still people that just want to talk shipped to you, to talk shipped to you, you know, instead of saying like man you're a hell of you know, you're a hell of a tight end. You guys are a great fucking team. It's

harder for people to do that now. It's so much easier for people to hate and and it's it's a sad position in a in a sad state of affairs that we're in. When it comes to that, it gives everybody opinion, It gives everybody opinion trapped. But also it gets to the point, like you said, all we can worry about is the message, the message we're given out. We can't really worry about what people say because people are gonna say all types of things. But long as

I message it clear, they're gonna twisted regardless. But all we can control is our message. As long as I message getting getting off is the right way, then that's all you can't control, especially these days. I'm I'm right there with you. My brother had a he had a fun, fun time when he won the Super Bowl and for the parade, he dressed up like, uh, whatever that is over there in Philly. I forget what it's called, um, but he um. He said something in in in his

parade speech that that resonates with me. He went down the line of everybody that that the media pointed out, all the flaws the media was talking about. Old, the Eagles can't win it. This guy does this, he's he he can't catch the ball, he's a terrible blocker, you know, things like that. And he went down the list, he named everybody's flaw and said, that's what this guy wrote about everybody. And you know what, you know what I said to him, fuck him him. You know, just straight up,

I ain't trying to hear. I'm not trying to hear none of that. We meet, we we reached the mountain peak and and and got crown king and and you can't say anything about it. And uh and and you know what, sometimes you just have to block it out and just tell him him, you know, and and and that's the mentality that you have to have. I used to at a at a younger age in my career, UM really care about all of that, uh to a certain extent. And um, and it used to get to me.

It used to get to me a lot, like and I would get frustrated out on the field, uh, not having the success that I I thought I should have. And and you know what, I I wasn't living a fun life and and and and and mentally you have to be able to find happiness and what you're doing and block out a lot of the negativity that's going on and uh. And mental health is such a huge part of being being an athlete, especially in today's game.

Right yeah, coming down the home stretch. UH. What's the mission of eighty seven and running eighty seven and running um? Our mission is to is to help out as many as many of the kids in Kansas City and Cleveland areas. Uh, and that those are just to the two areas that I'm focusing on right now, being from Cleveland and playing in Kansas City. UM, right now, right now, I'm just Uh. I grew up as uh, like I said, in a

very multicultural, very diverse area of a social as. So I understood privilege UM at a young age, and I understood how many uh, you know, different walks of life are really out here and how I can appreciate that but also appreciate you know, what my family is doing to provide for myself and my brother and UM in the way that my father and my mother were kind of that adult and that that guidance for a lot

of other kids because they didn't have that. UM. It made me understand that you know what, UM, I need to be able to lend a hand if I if I'm giving all of this fortune, if I'm giving all of this, uh, all this opportunity, UM that these other kids aren't getting, you know, and whether it's due to to failed school levies and not having the extracurricular activity, um, not having the band, not having you know, all these all these extracurricular things within the school to to you know,

just not having that the ability to go out and get a glove. You know. I want to make sure that all the kids UM in this city having to having least an opportunity to to to get into something. And uh. And that's what eighty seven running is all about, is making sure that underserved kids around both Kansas City area and Cleveland area are given the opportunities in life

that can help give them success. Man, we appreciate your yeah, yeah best man as vice versa, fellas as vice versa, are we gonna take you up on the I'm gonna get you numb, I'm gonna fun with you for real. You already know, you already know, alright quick hitters. Here we go. Top five your your top five artists, Top five artists. Oh man, he took it there, gotta leave. I've been on the old school. I've been to see I've been on the old school finding all old school stuff. Man,

whatever you want right now, shout out. Shout out to Casey's Casey's Old School, Bloodstone Man, one of the one of the one of the I believe, one of the most player bands that that I've heard recently that that UM wasn't wasn't at the top of the list when I initially started getting into this, Uh finding all this old school music. Um, and there were Kansas City Zone, so I gotta give them a shout out. Um, I'm all over it with with music. Man, I could go forever. Man.

Twenty one Savages is popping right now. Um God, Lee threw me on the spot. I can't even think of one specific justin timber Lake has always been a favorite man. I can always go back. I'm excited to hear his new stuff when he jumps on and then, Uh, Drake is always a favorite man. Anything he throws on end up finding finding a way to dance to it and move to it. Um and then Uh, I'll switch up the genre. Let's go um chain smokers. Man, those are my guys out there, h l A based, I believe.

Actually I think they're actually East Coast Base, but they're out in l A right now. Man, favorite Sneaker. As a kid, Oh man, you put me on the spot again, I would say as a kid. As a kid, the Back to the Futures were just it was everything to me, and that's why I went. When I actually got my first UH check in the NFL, the first thing I did was go online and try and find the Back to the Futures in my size. I got drafted in thirteen and they had just came out in two thousand

and twelve, but two thousand and eleven. I forget which one, but man, when they first when they when I saw the movie as a kid, I it blew my mind away that that these things were even being created. And then the story behind it and the fact that it was helping out Parkinson's disease. Um, just everything about it. Man, you know what the Sneak is all about the story. But I could give you ninety nineties kick references all day, man.

I was playing in the Jordan fourteens. When I was in fifth grade, I threw the black laces in them because I thought I was sweet. Uh, candy, the candy candy came four teens. Yeah, man, it's yeah, it goes, it goes on and no no, man was huge for for me. Fashion all started for me in the in the nineties because of the Kicks Wave Man, the Barkley's, the Jordan's, the Pippins. Uh, you name it. Man, What's

what's up? When we asked you this question? You gotta help us get this guess who would you like to see on all the smoke on the oldest smoke? Um, could be a teammate, could be an opponent, could be a different genre life period. Man, I'm gonna I'm gonna keep it in there. I'm gonna keep it in the boxing and and and go Tony Gonzalez. Man, I would love to hear your guys conversation with the greatest tight

end to ever play the game. Man. Yeah, and you got the basketball background, like as you know, he had a training camp with the Heat when he was he was younger. Um, he went right out here. Yeah, he went to he went to cal Berkeley, So that's right out of my way. So I know that was someone I looked up to because he was doing it at the highest level or college at least, you know, on bost sides. So that was that was a big motivation

for me. Tony G. You know the biggest memory I got to Tony G as a kid with NFL Street NFL that man, and I used to play with him every single time. That's where I knew the tight end position could be done. And I was like, okay, this because I lets guy Man, I gotta watch football man, he's a monster. Hell yeah, last question right here. We know you gotta get running five dinner guests dead or alive. Man. Um, this is a good one. R I P. Kobe Man

I would. I mean there was had a very brief opportunity to to say, you know how much I appreciated his MoMA mentality in terms of like having that uh and being able to incorporate something like that into my professional mindset. Um. So Kobe would definitely be one of them. R I P. And then um from there, man, god ly, I would, Uh, I would. I'm a huge outcast fan from growing up, so Andre three thousand, I would definitely throw in there. Man, very ever one of the ever

um from air dang Man. I know this is supposed to be quick, but godle, I can't even think this fast. Man. Um. Throw throw a fun guy in there, like Charles Barkley. Man, he's one of He's one of my favorite guys to be around. Just electrifies the room every time he walks in it. Um and never met Jordan Man. I might as well just get the dream team, man, Just bring the dream team on it and we'll figure it out from there. Larry Bird. I grew up in Cleveland, Man,

so I heard the legend of Mark Price. Man, so you might as well throw Mark on there and keep it moving from there. Nic. That's dope, man. Well, Travis Kelsey Man, we appreciate your time. Best to luck the rest of the way, sir. And uh, let's get that sign jersey. You already know we'll get it. We'll get it a sap man, I'll get it to your a sap. It'll be it'll be a super Bowl jersey. Just so you know, appreciate it by you already know. That's a wrap. I want to thank our guest Travis Kelsey for his

time today. You can catch this on Showtime a boat. Comeb on YouTube in the High Heart Black Effects platform. We'll catch you out next time. This is all a smoke, A production of The Black Effect and Our Heart Radio in partnership with Showtime