"He was the only one": Chiefs RB opens up about how Travis Kelce supported him through overcoming PTSD
Travis Kelce and Clyde Edwards-Helaire have been teammates since the running back was selected by the Chiefs in 2020. Over a period of time, players in the same team tend to bond and develop personal relationships beyond just the game.
Speaking on an episode of "The Pivot" posted on November 8, Edwards-Helaire gave a lengthy talk about how Travis Kelce was the only Chief who helped him with his PTSD.
"Travis is real, REAL heartfelt, probably not the most religious person, but he's gonna speak whatever he feels at the time. The amount of time that I was spending with Travis was unreal. I really look at him as a big brother, and I needed somebody to lean on," he said. (51:35)
"My first year in the league was COVID year, which literally kept us isolated from each other. But the only person that'll do those things, and reach out and make sure I'm good, text me on random days was Travis. Like, 'Bro, you good?' He was the only one ... You know, he called me 'GBC': Good Brother Clyde," he added.
For a running back in his fourth year, Edwards-Helaire seemingly has had nearly half-a-decade to have someone else step up and help him. It appears that no one else did aside from Travis Kelce.
Exploring pre-Travis Kelce source of Clyde Edwards-Helaire's PTSD
As a player who has spent his entire life in a violent sport like the NFL, one would think that Travis Kelce's running back's PTSD would stem from a grisly injury he either experienced or saw happen.
Instead, it appears the source of his mental health struggles came from off the field. The running back has never gone into details about the incident that caused it but did give the date: December 22, 2018, per ESPN. The only other detail provided was that it was a "self-defense situation."
A separate story by the Associated Press reported that Clyde Edwards-Helaire and a friend ended up in what appeared to be a life-or-death situation. It arose out of a Facebook marketplace-esque meetup to sell a piece of electronics.
The report claims that either Clyde Edwards-Helaire or his friend fatally shot someone during the interaction.
If any of the above quotes are used, credit "The Pivot" and H/T Sportskeeda.