Travis Kelce’s career could have gone in a completely different direction. (Image: Getty.)
has his brother Jason to thank for saving his career in football after he was kicked out of the University of Cincinnati for failing a drugs test.
In 2010, the younger Kelce sibling tested positive for cannabis, landing himself on the school’s suspended list after the Bearcats played in the Sugar Bowl.
He partied in Louisiana as an aspiring quarterback after taking on Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators, which resulted in a lost scholarship, effectively cutting his time at the college short.
“I got kicked out of college because of that,” he told the podcast in 2023. “I partied a little too much down there [New Orleans], got hit with a drug test and from that point on, I realised I’ve got to tighten the f*** up.”
Detailing Kelce’s escapades, his former college roommate Zach Collaros opened up on the time his mum accidentally walked in on the sidelined star smoking during his suspension.
“My mom visited one time, this was when Travis was suspended,” he explained to . “She doesn’t like going to the games so she just stayed behind and cleaned the house, which is a story in and of itself.
“She smells something and walks downstairs in the basement and it’s Trav smoking a joint. She goes: ‘Travis, aren’t you suspended for this?!?’
“He goes: ‘Hey Momma Collaros, it’s all right. When are we going to the game?’ And they walked to the game together.”
Travis Kelce during the Belk Bowl for Cincinnati. (Image: Getty)
His older brother Jason was the one who convinced Cincinnati coaches to let him play again, as Travis explained: “He went into the coach’s office and talked to numerous coaches to try and give me another chance.
“I’m forever in debt to this guy for putting his name, our name – the Kelce name – on the line. When I say I owe it all to him, I really do.”
He eventually re-joined the team, but with three new QBs ahead of him on the depth chart, Kelce was urged to make the switch to tight-end.
The decision proved beyond fruitful, having gone on to win the Super Bowl three times as one of the greatest ever in his position.
But his NFL hopes could have been wrecked before he even had a chance to be drafted as a result of a failed drugs test.
Kelce confirmed the story on his own New Heights podcast, saying: “I made sure to tell them [his college friends] don’t hold back, tell all the good stories.
“And sure enough they mentioned all the really good ones, like Zach’s mom walking in on me firing up in the garage before one of the games. Absolutely hilarious. That’s how I was living back then.”