By Amy Tennery
PHOENIX (Reuters) – “Kelce Bowl” buzz descended on Phoenix as Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce prepare to make history on Sunday when they become the first brothers to play each other in the Super Bowl.
At the Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday, where throngs of fans packed the Footprint Center, the fraternal fracas was on the tip of every reporter’s tongue.
“It’s a special moment,” said Travis, who helped the Chiefs to the championship three years ago. “It’s something that, obviously, we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.”
The pair have each already enjoyed enviable tenures in the National Football League, which could help soften the blow when one of them inevitably walks out of State Farm Stadium on the losing side on Sunday.
The 33-year-old Travis has earned eight Pro Bowl selections and is a bona fide media darling for his rakish charm and on-field heroics.
Jason, by comparison, enjoys a smaller spotlight as an offensive lineman, but has earned six Pro Bowl nods and helped Philadelphia to the Lombardi Trophy five years ago.
“He’s got more Pro Bowls, he’s going in the Hall of Fame as a first ballot, arguably the best tight end of all time, he’s better looking, he’s better at dancing,” said Jason, 35. “Give me one thing, Trav: Let me have more Super Bowls.”
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, the pair dreamed that they might play in the Super Bowl together – of course, in their childhood fantasy, they were playing on the same team.
Their mother, Donna, has made clear she won’t be picking sides, appearing on Monday at the Super Bowl media blitz in a combined Eagles-Chiefs jersey.
“We both realize that – for somebody – it’s not going to go well,” Jason said.
“I know it sounds crazy but I think we’re both still rooting for each other,” he added. “I feel like you can’t help but do that. I might not be rooting for the Chiefs but I’m always rooting for Travis.”
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Phoenix. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
