Travis Kelce recalls mistaking Chiefs' draft call for Rams in 2013 - "I was kind of bummed"
Travis Kelce has cemented himself as one of the greatest tight ends to play in the NFL. He's been a vital cog for the Kansas City Chiefs' dominance in the recent times, winning three Super Bowls in the last five years. However it could've been a different story - or atleast that's how he thought during the 2013 NFL Draft.
Kelce was a guest Tuesday's episode of The Rich Eisen Show. When asked to walk the host through his draft day, the Chiefs superstar spoke in detail. Kelce said he was initially perturbed after mistaking the Chiefs' draft call for the St. Louis Rams. But it all settled down once he heard the voice on the other end.
"I get a call from a Missouri number, and an Ohio kid like me had no idea that Kansas City was located in Missouri. And sure enough, I'm thinking it's the St Louis Rams, because they were still in St Louis at that time." [from 00:53]
Kelce said he knew multiple guys from his alma mater, University of Cincinnati, who played for the Rams. He added that the team did not have any legs before they relocated to Los Angeles in 2016.
"I was kind of like, bummed when I saw the Missouri number. And then all of a sudden I answer it, and it's Coach Reid, and it's just the most exciting. It went from like, I get to play for Coach Reid, because I had heard so much good things from everybody in the Eagles organization that my brother was tied to."
Chiefs HC Andy Reid humbled Travis Kelce during his draft night in 2013
While Travis Kelce was excited to potentially play for the Chiefs, Andy Reid immediately made his expectations clear. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end explained on the same show how Reid "centered his excitement" during the same draft call.
"He was like, 'Hey, are you going to screw this up? Are you gonna? Am I doing the right thing by taking you?" and immediately, he set the bar." [from 1:40]
Kelce added:
"I promised him myself that I really wanted to, like, be the best pick he ever had. I was just so thankful that he was taking a chance on me and then immediately he's like, 'Alright, is your brother around? Put him on the phone.'"
Reid did take a chance on Kelce and it has turned out to be one of the greatest returns you would expect. 12 years since their partenrship began, the duo begin their quest to create history in becoming the first team win three consecutive Super Bowls.