As a kid, Travis Kelce introduced himself to people in his neighborhood in a surprising way.
“He was the crazy guy,” Jason Kelce said of his brother on ESPN’s “Postseason NFL Countdown” ahead of the playoff matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans on Jan. 18. “He also told the entire block his name was Charles.”
It wasn’t until later that the Cleveland Heights, Ohio, family learned of Travis Kelce’s peculiar nickname.
“We found out at a block party because all the other parents were like, ‘There goes Charles,’” Jason Kelce said, as his fellow ESPN announcers and hosts burst out laughing. “That’s the kind of kid Travis was.”
As for why he opted for that nickname?
“His favorite basketball player was Charles Barkley,” Jason Kelce said, adding, “He was always living up to all of his sports idols, for sure.”
Coincidentally, Barkley was a guest on the brothers’ podcast, “New Heights,” in August 2023 and revealed at the time that he, too, wanted to go by a different name growing up. Specifically, Travis.
Barkley said the best basketball player at his high school was someone named Travis.
“When I started getting better at basketball, I said, ‘Mom, what do we think about me changing my name to Travis?’ She says, ‘What the hell are you talking about?’” Barkley recalled. “She says, ‘That’s your grandfather’s name.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, and he’s a nobody!’”
Jason Kelce’s anecdote Saturday came about after the ESPN show hosts asked if his brother was the kind of kid to wear shorts in the snow. The Chiefs tight end warmed up for the around 20-degree playoff game in a long-sleeve shirt, beanie and shorts.
The former Philadelphia Eagles center, meanwhile, appeared on air bundled up in a plaid winter coat and matching hat looking like “Yukon Cornelius,” as one announcer put it.
The Chiefs beat the Texans 23-14, pushing the current Super Bowl champs into the conference championship round, where they will play the winner of Sunday’s game between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills.
