Kansas City Chiefs News
Long before Travis Kelce became a superstar both on and off the field, he was considered a risk to even be drafted.
The talent was apparent, but Kelce failed multiple drug tests during his collegiate days with the Cincinnati Bearcats and had a reputation for being immature. Despite that, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Kelce in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
It was a true to form pick by Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who has a history of giving players second chances. Reid did his homework on Kelce, and he also coached his brother Jason during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
While there were some minor incidents with maturity early in Travis’ pro career, he has matured into a true leader and professional, and has never gotten into trouble off the field. While speaking to the media on Thursday, Kelce credited Reid for his growth.
“He’s an unbelievable coach,” Kelce said about Reid. “He’s a player’s coach, but at the same time, he’s going to hold you accountable. And I think the first year-to-two-years I was with coach Reid, I was like, man, this guy’s not messing around. There wasn’t too much of the personality that I see now, knowing that he’s like a father figure to me. He’s like, I don’t know, one of my uncles growing up that I respect so much because of who he is. And I owe everything to that man for my career and where it’s gone, from where I was at Cincinnati and where I am now. Man, I have nothing but respect for coach Reid and how he’s helped me get to where I am in life.”
Kelce is a great example of how good coaching can transform a talented player into an elite one. He has formed a reputation for bringing all his effort and energy into even the little things, which he also credited Reid for instilling in him.
“It’s definitely something I learned over the course of my career,” Kelce said about his good practice habits. “Coach Reid keeps you accountable in that aspect. He’s got the old school mentality. He’s an old school football coach where you’re going to put the work in, you’re going to bring your lunch pail to work every single day and grind it out. And those are how you find real answers.”
Kelce has come a long way, and is proof that coaching and good organizational structure matters. Had he been drafted by the wrong team and coach, who knows if he would have become who he is today. Kelce has cemented himself as a first-ballot NFL Hall of Famer, and will have a plethora of options for work after he retires from football.
